§ EARL FORTESCUE, in rising to ask Her Majesty's Government, When it is intended to commence the work of adorning the space between Constitution Hill and Hyde Park Corner, of which expectations were held out some time ago; also, whether there was any hope of the roadway being somewhat widened between the south end of Hamilton Place and Gloucester House, so as to diminish the constant block of the traffic in that part of Piccadilly and of Hamilton Place during the months of May, June, and July? said, that the undeniably valuable improvements at Hyde Park Corner were sadly marred by want of taste, and ignorance of the traffic requirements of the place. It would be within the recollection of their Lordships that a number of trees that had stood in the Green Park were thrown outside of it by the work of improving the access to Belgravia. Among those trees there had been a particularly graceful group nearly opposite Apsley House, and these trees had been suddenly and surreptitiously cut down and carted away one day before breakfast. Not only had the appearance of the spot been impaired by this act of Vandalism, but the numerous foot passengers were also deprived of most welcome shade. He could only suppose that Mr. Shaw Lefevre was emulous of his Chief in cutting down trees as well as in attacking institutions and legislating to authorize the breaking of contracts. Then, much inconvenience with regard to communications had resulted from the way in which these improvements had been carried out. The traffic along Hamilton 833 Place was peculiar. Practically, the whole of it from the North was to the South and West, and vice versâ any traffic for the East would certainly continue its course down the lower part of Park Lane. No provision was, therefore, necessary for traffic in Hamilton Place that had to go in any direction except South to Belgravia and West to Kensington; and, obviously, the convenient and natural course would have been to insure the continuance of the East and West traffic along Piccadilly uninterrupted, and provide for two lines of traffic up and down to and from Hamilton Place on the north side of Piccadilly from about Northampton House. He had been confirmed in this view by one of the policemen that regulated the traffic at the corner of Hamilton Place with so much good temper and tact, who told him that he and his mates had often talked the matter over, and agreed that that was the right remedy for the frequent obstruction there, as the traffic disentangled itself when it reached a wide Place. As at present arranged, the traffic from Hamilton Place had to come down a slope of wood pavement and cross traffic coming down a corresponding slope in Piccadilly. It was wonderful that more accidents did not happen; as it was, the constant blocking in the summer was notorious. If that part of Piccadilly east of Hamilton Place had been widened 18 feet, great inconvenience would have been saved. He had ventured, before the costly permanent railing was fixed, to make that suggestion to the authorities, and the answer he had got had been that the roadway had been opened so short a time that it was impossible to judge the result. That, in his opinion, was eminently characteristic of that sort of combination of habitual parsimony, with occasional spasms of extravagance, but never real economy, which characterized Mr. Gladstone's administration. The work of fixing the substantial railings was to go on, while experience was to say whether it was in its right place. Every carriage going down Hamilton Place to Knightsbridge had to cross one line of traffic and get to the other side, in order to make its way to Knightsbridge. He hoped that there was still a prospect of something being done.
§ LORD LAMINGTONsaid, that the question which his noble Friend had 834 brought forward afforded another proof of the great mismanagement of the public works of the Metropolis by the Office of Works. It was nearly three years since the open space called Wellington Square was cleared, and it had been left in a most disgraceful state. The Office of Public Works seemed to have no system of management whatever. The only public works which had been creditably carried out were those which had been executed by the Metropolitan Board of Works. Without that body none of our new streets or embankments would have been made. He saw it stated the other day that the condition of Battersea Park was a disgrace to a civilized country, that there were two feet of filth in the water, and that no care had been bestowed upon it by the Office of Works. But now it had been made over to the Metropolitan Board of Works, and he hoped it would be looked after.
§ THE EARL OF POWISobserved that it would be very desirable to throw back for three or four yards in width the fence of the Green Park, as from the end of Park Lane to the end of Hamilton Place the road was very much narrower than between Hamilton Place and Hyde Park Corner.
§ LORD MAGHERAMORNE (CHAIRMAN of the METROPOLITAN BOARD of WORKS)said, that as to the condition of Battersea Park, he did not wish to say anything disagreeable against another public department, but so far as the state of that Park had been brought under his cognizance it was not at all satisfactory. However, now that the Park was in the hands of the Metropolitan Board of Works, they would endeavour, as soon as possible, to put it into a proper condition.
§ LORD HENNIKERsaid, he did not think their Lordships would expect him to follow the noble Lord into the state of Battersea Park or the business of the Office of Works. He would confine himself to the Question put by the noble Earl on the Cross Benches. The adornment of Hyde Park Corner or Wellington Square was undertaken two or three years ago by a Committee presided over by the illustrious Prince his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and the funds were provided by private subscription, to which were added £6,000 granted by Parliament. The Committee 835 had agreed to a scheme, the main feature of which was that an equestrian statue of the great Duke of Wellington should be erected opposite Apsley House The statue was being executed by Mr. Boehm, R.A., and it was hoped that it would be placed in its position next autumn. The Committee intended to spend any available balance of the fund in improving the surrounding spaces. This balance would not be so great as to allow very elaborate treatment, but his noble Friend would be glad to hear that it was the intention of the Committee to plant some trees around those spaces. He could not undertake to apologize for the cutting down of the large trees which had been referred to, or say anything about them, because his right hon. Friend now at the head of the Department had, he believed, nothing to do with the matter. The intention of the Committee was that the three plots of ground should be laid down with asphalte pavement, and that there should be an ornamental granite pedestal or platform on which the statue would be placed. It was hoped the whole of the improvement would be completed before the 1st of November next. With regard to the other Question, he would refer the noble Earl to the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, because it was not a matter with which the Office of Works had anything to do. He admitted the importance of the question of the traffic, but as far as the Office of Works was concerned, they thought it was entirely for the Metropolitan Board of Works to deal with it, and they did not propose to take any steps in the matter.