MR. T. M. HEALYI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury at what hours are the Botanic Gardens in Dublin and at Kew open to the public in summer and winter, and what are the hours when the hothouses are open; and could arrangements be made by which the Dublin gardens and houses could be kept open in summer at hours when the working classes could have access to them?
§ MR. ACLANDPerhaps I may be allowed to answer this question. The Botanic Gardens in Dublin are open on week-days from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. be- 659 tween the 1st April and the 30th September, and from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., or to sunset, between the 1st October and the 31st March. The conservatories are opened an hour later, and closed and hour earlier than the Gardens. On Sundays, both gardens and conservatories are open from 2 p.m. till the stated time for closing the Gardens. The Gardens at Kew are open on week days from 12 till sunset, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 till sunset, the latest time of sunset being taken as 8 p.m. in summer, and the earliest as 4 p.m. in winter. The hothouses are open from 1 to 6 p.m. in summer, and from 1 to sunset in winter, on week-days and Sundays alike. I will see whether, while having due regard to the hours of the employés, arrangements can be made for keeping the Gardens and houses at Dublin open somewhat later in summer than is the practice at the present time.