The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-29 00:00:00

THE RIOTS At AS HTON.

Mr. WHALLEY asked the Secretary of State for the
Home Department whether it was the intention of
the • Government to institute any inquiry as to
the origin and nature of the recent riots at
Ashton and other places, in the county of
Lancaster, and at Birmingham and other places, in the
counties of Warwick and Stafford; and whether the Go -
vernme t had made any and what provision for the better
protection of public lecturers and those who may attend
such lectures in the event of threats to suppress such lec-
tures by riot and outrage, and then prevent the recurrence
of such riots as before referred to ?
Mr. HARDY said he had practically answered the ques-
tion the other evening, but he had now to repeat that it
was not the intention of the Government to institute any
inquiry whilst the trials were proceeding. With respect
to the latter part of the question, that rested entirely with
the local authorities.

OBSTRUOTIONS IN THE STREETS.
Mr. OTWAY asked the First Commissioner of Works
the cause of so many of the principal streets in the metro-
polis being blocked up by work going on in the roads.
It was exceedingly inconvenient when London was fullest
that the roads should be obstructed ; but it seemed to be
the general practice whenever the ordinary traffic was
increased that was the exact time chosen for repairs.
Lord JOHN MANNERS said the Government was not
responsible for the control of the public streets. The
funds for their maintenance were not taken from the Con-
solidate' Fund, hut were contributed by the ratepayers,
and the representatives of those parties wore those who
had the management of the streets. It was no fault of the
Government that the roads were so bad in so many places
at that particular period.
THE IRISH CHURCH.
Mr. GLADSTONE said the committee on this bill
stood for Friday next, and as it would be for the con-
venience of hon. members, he bagged to ask what course
the Government proposed to take with respect to this
bill ?

Mr. DISRAELI said be thought the bill a vary bad
one, and that it was useless to attempt to improve it. He
should therefore offer no formal opposition to the com-
mittee.

THE BOUND A-RY BILL.
Mr. WALPOLE brought up the report of the select
committee on this bill, and said it would be in the hands
of members on Monday next.
THE NEW LAW COURTS. _

On the motion that the SPETtKER.d:Ie;ve the chair,
Mr. B. COO RANE called the attention of the house to
the site of the law courts. He thought it was the duty
of the house to consider this matter before it was
too late. They had already laid out a very large amount
of money, but after all it was the opinion of all competent
persons that the plan proposed could not be carried out on
the site proposed. It was most lamentable that a groat
sum of money was to be expended in erecting the new law
courts on the site near Temple Bar, which he contended
was altogether a mistake, when such a fine position as the
Thames Embankment could now be had. He hoped the
Government and the house would pause and reconsider
the whole matter before the building was commenced. It
was not because they had acquired a questionable site
that, therefore, they were compelled to raise the proposed
new courts on it.

Mr. M. CHAMBERS was of opinion that the present site
was most objectionable, as it. was surrounded by the dirtiest
and most d lapidated building in the metropolis. He con-
demned :the whole seheuie, bJcause it would cost an
enormous sum of money, much more than the most ex-
travagant now expected, and the result would be total
and miserable failure on account of the unmanage-
able nature of the site selected. He thoughte
in this country too much was sacrificed in ex-
terior grandeur, and not solidity and sedateness in
architecture in that country. Nothing seemed to go down
now but the cathedral style of architecture, and why it
should be so he could not understand, because he found as
a rule that all buildings constructed of late in that style
were, in fact, most inconvenient, and, to a great
extent, not at all adapted to the purpose in-
tended. He thought it would be the wisest
course to adopt to call in the advice of a com-
petent person to ascertain what was the value of the
site at present acquired, with a view to either re-setting
letting it off on building leases, and to set about selecting
a position on the Thames Embankment for the new
Palace of Justice. He did not go along with those
who said as we have got a site we must build upon it.
He thought that instead of a loss being sustained by the
giving up of the proposed site that a gain would accrue
to it, as in the disposal of the ground things were man-
aged in a businesslike manner. At all events, he thought
the proposed site about one of the worst that could have
been selected.
Mr. COWPER differed from the hon. and learned gen-
tleman. lie thought the proposed site was the most
convenient that could be adopted, and much to be pre-
ferred to that of the Thames Embankment. It seemed
altogether to have escaped the attention of the hon. gentle-
man that the houses that would have to be purchased if
the site was removed to the Thames Embankment would
cost twice as much as those of Carey-street and the stir-
roundinc, neighbourhood. If the site was changed another
great delay would take place, and the greatest incon-
venience must follow such a course of proceeding, and
therefore he Loped the Government would not clang,'
their plans, but would push on the work with the greatest
speed possible.
Sir ii. BO WYER was in favour of the new courts being
constructed on the Thames Embankment, and he also felt
certain that if the present site was resold that the Govern-
ment would realise more money than they gave for it.
Lord J. MANNERS said the Government had no power
in the matter. The Legislature bad decided over and over
again the site of the New Palace of Justice,
sot and
therefore it was impossible that he could hold
any hope of a change of the site.presenxt7B9,o, 00 ThThetphree
oseonslt
site up to the present time had coat
of the whole site would be £896,000. That was the known
cost of the one position ; what the other would be ou the
ThiulleN gthbaukment, no one could tell.
OEFT