Lords Sitting of 7 April 1870

MINUTES.
PUBLIC BILLS—First Reading—Divorce and Matrimonial Causes* (67);
Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Repeal*(68).
Second Reading—Inverness County, &c. (Boundary)*(48).
Third Reading—Dublin Collector General of Rates Franchise*(41), and passed.
WRITS AND RETURNS electing the Earl of Lanesborough a Representative Peer for Ireland in the room of the late Lord Crofton, deceased, with the certificate of the Clerk of the Crown in Ireland annexed thereto—Delivered (on oath), and certificate read.

THE NEW PUBLIC OFFICES. OBSERVATIONS.
LORD REDESDALEsaid, that, pursuant to the promise of the noble Marquess (the Marquess of Lansdowne) on Tuesday night, the plan for the extension of the new Public Offices had been placed in the Library for inspection by their Lordships. It did not, however, show the manner in which the frontage would be carried relatively to the whole of King Street and Parliament Street. He wished to know whether such a plan could be produced, and he hoped that an arrangement would be made for connecting the Privy Council Office by an arch or otherwise with the proposed buildings, so as to lessen the discordance which would attend a different angle and line of frontage. It was much to be regretted that it was not the duty of some office or person to keep a look-out for improvements which might at onetime be effected at little cost, but which, if the opportunity was allowed to pass, became costly or impracticable. Their Lordships would no doubt have observed that the house at the corner of Spring Gardens, which was of small value and importance, and might no doubt have been secured at a reasonable price, had just been pulled down, having been purchased by a banking company, who were about to raise a large and handsome structure on the site. Now, had this site been secured an entrance into the Mall might have been made at a small expense, and thus formed a communication through the Mall to Charing Cross,

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avoiding several narrow thoroughfares, and offering to Her Majesty a direct route to the City. Now, however, the improvement, if ever carried out, would be done at an enormously increased cost. By a little foresight great improvements might be effected at a comparatively small cost.
EARL GRANVILLEpromised to make inquiries as to the plan to which the noble Lord had referred.
DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES BILL [H.L.] (No. 67.) A Bill to consolidate the Acts relating to Divorce and Matrimonial Causes in England: And also,
DIVORCE AND MATRIMONIAL CAUSES REPEAL BILL [H.L.] (No. 68.) A Bill to repeal certain enactments which have been consolidated in an Act of the present Session relating to Divorce and Matrimonial Causes:
Were severally presented by The Lord PENZANCE; read 1a.
House adjourned at a quarter past Five o'clock, till To-morrow, a quarter before Five o'clock.