§ MR. GREGORYasked the First Commissioner of Works, What is the cause of the delay in the construction of the. New Courts of Justice, and when the building will be commenced?
§ MR. AYRTON,in reply, said, that at the beginning of last year he had stated that sketch plans and designs for the New Law Courts had been some time before approved by the Treasury and had been returned to Mr. Street, the architect appointed to carry out the work, in order that he might prepare contract plans and drawings. He was then under an engagement to prepare those plans and drawings within a period of six months; but it turned out that a great deal more time was required than had been anticipated, and though Mr. Street had, he believed, worked very diligently to fulfil his engagement, he had not completed the contract plans and drawings until a short time ago. They in fact amounted to no less than 300 drawings on a large scale, and it was necessary after they had been furnished that the surveyors should perform the operation known as "taking out the quantities" to enable the contractors to tender. That work appeared to be one of great magnitude, and had occupied more time than had been anticipated, and was spread over a great many hundred pages of foolscap. The result was, however, now in the possession of Mr. Street, and the tenders for contracts would, he hoped, be received on the 5th of March. If the tenders were satisfactory, the contracts would be made on one of them for the construction of the new buildings.