MR. HERBERTasked the First Commissioner of Works, If his attention has been called to the almost total stoppage 499 of traffic in some of the streets approaching Hyde Park on last Saturday afternoon; whether, considering the crowded state of Piccadilly, Grosvenor Place, and Hyde Park during the season, he would take into his consideration the desirability of throwing open Constitution Hill to the public for carriage and cab traffic; and, whether experience has shown that any inconvenience has resulted from opening the road in St. James's Park, opposite Buckingham Palace, for a like purpose, or the road opposite the Horse Guards for Members of the House of Commons?
§ MR. AYRTON,in reply, said, that his attention had not been called to the state of the traffic on Saturday afternoon, but he had experienced, in common with other people, the great inconvenience that resulted from the stoppage of traffic at the point to which the hon. Member referred in his Question. It was no doubt a very serious inconvenience, not merely to the general traffic of Piccadilly, but to any persons who happened to be passing on foot. At the same time, it was to be remarked that this stoppage arose from the happy condition of a great number of the inhabitants of the wealthy parish of St. George's, Hanover Square, who, at certain periods of the day, enjoyed themselves and afforded great delight to other persons in looking at the equipages in which they drove to the Park. That being the case, it was peculiarly incumbent upon the local authorities of that parish to make proper arrangements, as far as they had any connection with those forming the wealthy inhabitants of the district, and it was also incumbent upon the Metropolitan Board of Works, if they thought the subject was one of magnitude, to take it into their consideration in order to see what could be done; and if they could not carry out what was necessary without the assistance of Her Majesty's Government, then to make proper representations on the subject to himself (Mr. Ayrton), so far as they might relate to any property in his charge. The property in Constitution Hill was not in his charge as regarded its enjoyment. It was in the enjoyment of His Royal Highness the Ranger, who was the proper person, subject to the control of Her Majesty's Government, to regulate the Park. The local authorities ought to communicate with him on 500 the subject if they found the resident inhabitants of their districts were suffering great inconvenience, or the public at large. When they did that he (Mr. Ayrton) had no doubt that the representations would he properly received and duly considered. But in regard to the third Question, he was not aware that any inconvenience had resulted from opening the road in St. James's Park, or the road opposite the Horse Guards, for Members of the House of Commons.