§ LORD ELCHOasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Kensington Gardens are under the management and control of Her Majesty's First Commissioner of Works, or of any other authority; whether the stopping-up and diverting, at an obtuse angle, towards the Albert Memorial and Albert Hall of a portion of the broad gravel walk that formerly bisected the Gardens in a straight line from the Colebrook Dale Gates at Rotten Row to the Bayswater Gate have been done by the sole advice and authority of the First Commissioner of Works; and, if not, by whose advice and authority; whether this diverting of a portion of the gravel walk and the accompanying alterations have necessitated or resulted in the cutting down of several of the old trees in the Gardens; and, if so, of how many; whether this divergence of the Broad Walk and the other alterations in the Gardens have been done in accordance with a definite plan that was prepared and laid down previously to the commencement of the alterations; if so, what is the date of this plan, who is responsible for it, and by whom was it prepared and drawn; whether, supposing such a plan to be in existence, he will cause it to be immediately laid before Parliament; and, whether he will also lay upon the Table of the House a Plan of the whole of Kensington Gardens and of the adjoining portion of Hyde Park, &c. on which the Albert Memorial and Albert Hall now stand, showing the exact state of the Gardens, Park, &c. before the recent alterations, and also the alterations that have been made, and any others that may be in contemplation?
MR. GLADSTONEUndoubtedly Kensington Gardens are under the management and control of Her Majesty's First Commissioner of Works, and not under any other control. I think, therefore, I had better leave my right hon. Friend to answer the noble Lord's Question, trusting he will be able to give a satisfactory answer.
§ MR. AYRTONsaid, he was afraid the noble Lord had forgotten what had occurred on this subject during the last Session of Parliament. Last Session he made a proposal to throw part of Hyde 1772 Park into Kensington Gardens, and the House voted the money for carrying out that object; and a plan was laid on the Table to elucidate the proposal. In consequence of that the plan to carry out the design practically was considered in the Office of Works, and, of course, it was settled by his (Mr. Ayrton's) authority. Whatever had been done to carry out the vote of the House had been by his authority, and he was entirely responsible for it. The work presented only a choice of difficulties; and if the House thought it desirable to find time to discuss those difficulties, and the means of obviating them, he should be quite ready to take part in that discussion. The noble Lord did not seem to be aware that a plan was ordered to be laid on the Table, and it was now in preparation. A plan of the former state of Kensington Gardens might be seen in any good map of London, and he did not see the necessity of having one printed for the benefit of hon. Members. If the noble Lord would move for the plan there would not be the least objection to grant it.
§ LORD ELCHOsaid, he wished to repeat part of his Question. ["Oh, oh!"] He believed he was perfectly in Order in asking for an answer to this: whether it is true that the diversion of the Broad Walk and the cutting down of the trees to which he had referred was done according to any definite plan prepared previously to the commencement of the alteration; if so, what was the date of this plan, who was responsible for it, and by whom was it prepared and drawn?
§ MR. AYRTONThe work was carried on according to a plan approved of by myself and by my authority.
§ LORD ELCHODid that plan embrace the diversion of the Broad Walk where it has been diverted from a straight line to an obtuse angle towards the Albert Memorial, and did it embrace the cutting down of the trees that have been cut down?
§ MR. AYRTONI have already stated that the plan was to carry out the works which have been carried out. The particular plan which was prepared contained only the commencement of the Broad Walk; but it indicated that which was perfectly settled—namely, that the walk was to be diverted towards the Albert Memorial.
§ LORD ELCHOWhen was that done?
§ MR. AYRTONThe noble Lord may ask as many questions as he likes; but all was done by my authority, and was proceeded with upon instructions for which I am responsible. The plan was finally settled in the beginning of December.