MR. MITCHELL HENEYasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether there is any intention to cut down the beautiful plane tree which stands opposite the old entrance to the South Kensington Museum?
§ MR. SHAW LEFEVRESir, there is no intention to cut down the tree to which my hon. Friend refers, and I have given directions that it shall not be subject to maltreatment. I may observe, 993 however, that if the plans for the extension of South Kensington Museum, decided upon in 1876, be carried out, and if a frontage be added to the blank wall of the Art Library recently erected, it is difficult to see how the plane tree can be preserved; but, at the rate at which money has been voted for the South Kensington Museum during the last few years, it will be about 20 years before the period of danger is reached.