The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-19 00:00:00

THE EXHIBITION BUILDING.

The Duke of RUTLAND then rose to put the question
of which he had. given notice relative to the purchase of the
International Exhibition building. He thought it would be
a decided raistake to purchase the building, either on the
ground usefulness or economy. It would be altogether
imposs'gble to adapt the building, supposing the purchase
was effected, to the purposes for which it was intended.
Experience had always shown that attempts to convert large
buildings for purposes of an opposite nature for which they
had been erected had resulted in signal failure. As far as
economy was concerned the purchase was quite out of the
question, and instead of the building being offered at a
very advantageous figure he thought the price asked was
far more than its value, because it was only worth as much
as the materials of which it was constructed would fetch in
the market, and that he supposed would not exceed
1.30,000. It had been been said that the architectural
features of the building were to be improved by
covering bricks with a coat of stucco, but nothing would
convert it into a sightly structure. Re thought the best
thing that could be done was to remove the building alto-
gether, and to 'erect an entirely new one, adapted to the
purposes for which it was intended to alter the one now
standing. The noble earl concluded by asking his ques-
tion, which related to the state of the foundation of the Ex-
hibition 'building.
Earl GRANVILLE said he regretted the noble lord had
not stated the precise nature of his question when he put
his motion on the paper. With respect to eco-
nnznY, the noble earl thought the house was
scarcely competent to deal with the question.
Re thought it would be the better plan to get the very best
professional advice upon the matter that could be obtained,
and be guided by that. With regard to taste, he did not
profess to be possessed of any great taste, but he understood
the picture galleries that had been erected were the finest
in the world. In reference to the question of the noble
duke, he did not think it would be necessary to raze the
building to the ground before it could be made either a per-
manent or suitable one for the purpose proposed.
The Earl of DERBY said he should like to know, as the
ground upon which the building stood was to be sold for
£120,0430, why a vote in the other house for its purchase
was only taken for £67,000.

Lord REDESDALE said it appeared to him the simple
question was should the building be removed or allowed
to remain. He thought the beat thing that could be done
was to let the contractor clear the ground, because no
amount of money would ever make it an ornament or at,
traction to the metropolis.

The Earl of HARDWICKE 'aid it was decided to pur-
chase the.building, of which viery little could be said by
way of admiration, they wrJuld buy a bad article, and all
the money that would be spent on it would never make it
a good one.

The Duke of ARGYLL said it was entirely a question of
evidence, With respect to the value of the materials, that
depended on the time the contractors had to remove them.

After a few words in reply from the Duke of RUTLAND,
the subject dropped.

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Charing- cross bridge, New Millford docks, Oswes-
try and Newtown railway (branches), Bradford, Wakefield,
and Leeds railway, Shrewsbury and Welchpool railway,
Evesham and Redditch railway, Ashbourne, Sudbury, and
'Yoxall bridge, and Uttoxeter and Collingwood road, For-
martine and Buchan railway, Great North of Scotland
railway, London, Brighton, and South Coast railway, and
Mid Kent railway bills were read a second time.

CAYMAN ISLANDS BILL.
The Duke of NEWCASTLE moved that the Commons'
amendments made to this bill be agreed to.
The motion was passed unanimously.

PRISON MINISTERS' BILL.

The Duke of SOMERSET moved the adoption of the re-
port on the amendments to this bill.

Lord BROUGHAM was only surprised that such a
measure had never been passed until the year of grace
1863.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY would not persist in the
amendment of which he had given notice.
The report was received after some discussion.

REDEMPTION OF RENTS (IRELAND) BILL.
Th;s bill was read a third time, and passed.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPLEMENTAL BILL.
This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted.