The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-14 00:00:00

MR. COMMISSIONER KERR.

Mr. MEDwrx said he had to ask the chairman of the Law
and Parliamentary Committee (Mr.Carritt) three questions.
It was well known that the committee were engaged upon
a most important investigation connected with the charac-
ter and proceedings of one of the judges, Mr. Commissioner
Kerr. It was essential that the Corporation should have
the report of that committee placed before them at as early
a period as possible, in order that what the committee had
been doing in the matter might be ascertained ; whether
the proceedings ware being prosecuted energetically, or
whether there was any laxity in the progress. The first
question he had to ask was this —whether it was the inten-
tion of the committee to request of the Corporation that
the reference to it might be discharged ?- '(" Oh, oh !" and
laughter.) He had reason to believe from what he had
heard that this would, sooner or later, be the decision of
the committee.

Mr. Cox asked upon what authority Mr. Me dwin made
this statement ?

Mr. MEDwiN, without replying, said his second question
was this—if the committee intended to make a report, when
might that report be expected? and his third question had
reference to a very unusual course which he understood the
committee were taking with reference to their proceedings.

The LORD MAYOR said the hon. member was a little out
of order. lie could put his questions, but he could not in-
terlard them with observations of his own.

Mr. MEDWIN admitted he was wrong. He would, there-
fore, put his third question in this form-whether the re-
port of the committee would be accompanied with a copy
of the shorthand writer's notes of the evidence ?

Mr. CARRITT said he felt pleasure in answering these
questions in a general way. He could truly state that
every effort had been and was being made to carry out this
important investigation with the greatest possible rapidity.
But then the committee felt that even-handed justice must
be done to all parties in a matter of tha kind. They had
made up their minds to do this—that, while they were wil-
ling to receive the evidence of all volunteers on eitherside,
until they bad done that, and they had not done it yet, they
felt that they ought not to be asked by the Court to give
any further explanation. (Hear, hear.)
The subject here dropped.
THE GUILDHALL IMPROVEMENTS.

Mr. Cox said that, seeing the Chairman of the Guildhall
Committee in his place, he wished to ask when the altera-
tions or improvements at Guildhall would be completed,
and whether the work was being done by contract ?
Mr. KELDAY, the chairman of the committee, said that
so far as the pavement was concerned, he expected it would
be finished within a very few weeks. The gallery would
also be finished in a few weeks. Both, would certainly be
completed before Lord Mayor's day. The spire was nearly
finished; but the screen at the east end could not be com-
pleted for some time, because of the nature of the materials
which were being used upon it. Generally the work would
be out of hands in a short period. It had all been contracted
for, and when it was done it would be found to have been
completed within the estimated amount of cost.
ELLis asked whether it was the fact that the com-
mittee had resolved upon going to Liverpool and other
provincial towns for the purpose of inspecting marble for
the columds'irt ?
Mr. KELDAY said he did not think he should answer the
question. (A laugh.) It seemed to be always considered
a joke to refer in that Court to the alterations at Guildhall,
but perhaps the expenses of those alterations might be
something more than a joke. The committee had done all
they could to give effect to what the Corporation had autho-
rized. If the work were considered of a serious charac-
ter, he hoped the Corporation would treat the committee
seriously. When the report was submitted then it would
be for the Corporation to decide whether they would go
further into the matter of the improvements. Meanwhile,
the court must recollect that they were committed for what
had been contracted for.

Mr. ELLIS assured the hon. member that he was not
joking. He wished again to ask the chairman whether the
committee had determined to proceed to Liverpool and
other towns for the purpose of inspecting marble?

Mr. ICET,DAy replied that the committee had not resolved
upon any such thing, and that they had no intention of
doing so. •