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

DAY SITTINGS.

Lord PALMERSTON intimated that they were ap-
proaching the time when morning sittings would be indis-
pensable. (Oh, oh, and hear, hear.) He proposed that
the house should sit on Tuesday in order to take the Irish
Fisheries Bill.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN THE METROPOLIS.
On the motion for going into committee of supply,

Mr. B. COCHRAN-E rose to move that, for the sake of
obtaining greater unity of design in our publie build-
ings, and with a view to the efficiency and economy
of the public service, it is desirable a permanent Com-
missioner of Public Works and Buildings, or other officer,
should be appointed to the present Board of Works. The
lion, gentleman traced the mismanagement and extrava-
gant cost of our public buildings and statues to the want of
a permanent officer of the kind suggested.
Mr. COWPER entered upon a lengthy explanation.
Ha admitted that in the past there had been a good deal of
mismanagement and much waste of money in consequence
of a false economy as in the case of the National Gallery.
He explained the course he adopted during his term of
office, and indicated the improvements he had introduced.
Sir J. SHELLEY supported the motion, and defended
the report of the committee, which recommended the ap-
pointment of a permanent commissioner of works, and that
on one of the junior lords of the Treasury should devolve
the duties of the office in that house. They had a perma-
nent under secretary at the Home-office— an arrangement
which worked well, and he could not see why a junior lord
of the Treasury should not be able to represent the Office of
Works in that house, by the advice and assistance of a per-
manent officer, who would not be changeable with the Go-
vernment. This was the course which gentlemen took in
the management of their own properties; they appointed a
person permanently to take charge of thug ; and why
should not the same rule be applied to the management of
the parks and the public property.
Sir S. M. PETO said that, having been a contractor for
public works in foreign countries, he was able to speak of
the manner in which those works were carried out. In
France the Minister of Public Works was the Minister of
Public Works ; in this country the Minister of Public
Works was no Minister at all. (Hear, hear.) He would be
sorry the Minister of Public Works was not a member of
that house; for he thought it was of great advantage that
he should be present and take part in discussions relative to
his department. But what they wanted was that which
existed in France, a board of able and practical men in as-
sociation with the Minister of Public Works, capable of
directing him to right conclusions, and preventing the con-
stant disappointments which gave them so much grief, and
which made their public works a bye word. (Rear.) He had
executed various works for the Government of France, and
he had found the estimates so well considered, and the plans
and all the details so well sifted, that he had been able to
adopt the estimate of the Minister, and he had never found
himself a.loser in any one instance; and the consequence
was that in France the public works were carried out upon
the estimate. But no public work in this country was ever
carried out within the estimate. That condemned the whole
principle. They had a remarkable instance of it in the con-
struction of harbours of refuge, which were carried out
under the direction of men who, although they might be
clever nautical men, knew nothing about the administra
tion of public works. How were these things done in
France? If a dock was to be constructed, the Admiralty
had nothing to do with the construction of it ; the Minister
of Public Works had the proper estimates and plans made
out, and the works would be done for the sure specified ;
and they would not find that where £200,000 or £300,000 had
been asxed, the work ultimatelycost a million. (Hear.) What
they wanted was, that the Ministerof Public Works should
be responsible for all the public works in the country, and
that he should lay before them estimates prepared by his
board of associates, who should be responsible to him for
their correctness. Such an arrangement would prevent the
lamentable excesses in the estimates for public works which
had brought so much discredit on the administration. The
rule to which he referred was equally in force at Vienna
and Berlin, as well as in Paris ; and they would never have
their department of public works until they surrounded the
minister with men who were practically conversant with
Pthalikedrdthaj.
the nature of the duties. (Hear, hear.
that the
MANNERS,
ySwhile concurring in the criticisms
by his hen. friend on certain public works, did not
beneficial change.permanent officer proposed by him would effect any
It had been suggested that there should
in oraer to
it so ensureha„,_._, the efficiency of its administration; but
thatxiatenee7"7"the there was such an officer already in
went in that ho
board.
board in the hi:flan
law arooll
law board was utility of having the head •
p:ise was illu%trated in
y ysars there sv
se, area the of the depart-
law the case of the poor-
theeonsas no representative of
rn arose but since the consequence was that great
that house, the dep:rtMiniAtkr
The mischief whichof
tit President of the poor-
rams had give: 'mu with a seat in
want of a friendly hadßphit :leen had bean
ger satisfaction.
and their taking exception—"ig those 'who hi:l4 Owing to
motion of his hon. friend wtoo eal
plained of, he could not
The motion was then withdrawn, ch other's pian,the office,
give
int dh.not remedy the—imilus the
support. 1 6314
n,
INDIA—THE ATTACK ON TR
Sir J. HAY postponed his motion on this e subject to tha
day three weeks, at which time he hoped
th t
India would be able to be in his place. a Secretary f"
ORDNANCE SURVEY.

Mr. BAILLIE called the attention of the house to a report
recently presented by Sir IL James of the progress of the
ordnance survey of the United Kingdom. The hon. mem-
ber expressed his opinion that there had been already too
much discussion on the subject, and his only object in
making the motion was to obtain a statementjfrom the Go-
vernment as to the course they intended to adopt. With

regard to England, they had a complete map on the 1-inch
scale, which was perhaps the most convenient ; but for
other purposes it might be necessary to have a larger one,
and the most advantageous would be a 25-inch scale. They
had also two complete maps for Ireland—one on the 1-inch
scale, a second on the 6-inch scale, and a third upon a 1-inch
scale with all the physical features, was in progress. But
what was the case as regarded Scotland? Of the 30,000
square miles of Scotland only 6,438, or little more than one •
fifth, had ben surveyed and published upon the 6.inch
scale; and only 4,022, or less that one-seventh, had been
executed upon the 1-inch scale.
Mr. E. ELLICE corroborated the statement of the hon.
member, and said that Scotland had good reason to be dis-
satisfied at the manner in which she was treated with regard
to the ordnance survey. Scotland had been 40 years wait-
ing for a map, but it was now proposed to make a second
survey of England, which would have the effect of postpon-
ing the completion of the Scottish survey to an indefinite
period.
Mr. DODSON thought that the demand made on behalf
of Scotland was like the fable of the dog in the manger.
The low parts of Scotland had been surveyed, and what
remained were the Highlands. During half the year the
Highlands could not be surveyed, owing to the severity of
the weather there ; but they were called upon to do nothing
in England until the whole of Scotland was completed. He
trusted the Chancellor of the Exchequer, would not pledge
himself to such a course.

Mr. FINLAY said it was a mistake to suppose that all
the low ground of Scotland had been surveyed.
The matter then dropped.
THE TRINITY BOARD ELECTRIC LIGHT FOR