Lords Sitting of 10 August 1869

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—Third Reading— Sanitary Act (1866) Amendment (Ireland) * (279); Broughty Ferry Provisional Order Confirmation* (294); Canada (Rupert's Land) Loan* (285); Metropolitan Board of Works (Loans) * (280), and passed.
THE NEW COURTS OF JUSTICE.

  REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE.
  LORD DENMANrose to call attention to the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the new law Courts. It seemed to be supposed that the concentration of the Law Courts would be a great public advantage; but that he held to be a great mistake. The consequence of that idea was that great expense had been incurred in obtaining a new site. Notwithstanding the pledge given to Parliament that the expense of obtaining and clearing away the new site should not exceed £750,000 that had already been exceeded, and before the approaches were made the expense would amount to a good deal more. He thought they would have cause to regret it if they acted upon the principle of concentrating all the Courts into one place. It was said of the new site proposed on the bank of the river that it had "the three R's" in its favour, for it was approached by road, by river, and by rail; but he begged to say that the Courts at Guildhall were as convenient for City men, and as easily approached, as any site on the banks of the river would be. The project of concentration was advocated to save lawyers the trouble of walking far from their chambers to the Law Courts, and to allow the seniors to hold briefs in more than one court at a time—thus effectually cutting off all chance of the juniors rising. He (Lord Denman), on the
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  other hand, thought it would be of great advantage to have causes tried in various parts of this great metropolis. This opinion, he was happy to say, was shared by an eminent Member of their Lordships House, who had himself been at the Bar. He thought the Carey Street site was preferable to that of the restricted site on the river; but he hoped their Lordships would pause before they committed themselves to either of them.

PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS (SCOTLAND) BILL.

  REPRINT OF BILL.
  LORD REDESDALEmoved that this Bill, as amended by the Commons, be reprinted, with a view of showing how materially it differed from the measure sent down by their Lordships, and of placing on record the proceedings of both Houses for reference in a future Session.
  Motion agreed to.
  LORD REDESDALEwished to mention, in proof that the division last night was not a party one, but was due to the determination of the House to retain its due influence in legislation, that not a single Member of the late Cabinet took part in it. He received last night a telegram from Lord Derby, who expected that the question would not have been discussed till to-day, stating his readiness and desire to come up to town that he might be present.
  LORD DENMANsaid, that he was ready to have stayed in London a sufficient time to consider the alterations; but, as the Prorogation was fixed for the 11th, he voted as he did. He regretted that the vigour and determination shown in the division last night had not been exhibited in reference to the Irish Church Bill. Every Irishman he had met with was unwilling to return to his home in consequence of the present aspect of affairs.

  OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE PARLIAMENTS AND OFFICE OF THE GENTLEMAN USHER OF THE BLACK ROD.
  Report from the Select Committee considered (according to order), and agreed to.
  House adjourned at a quarter past Five o'clock, 'till To-morrow, a quarter before Two o'clock.