The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-14 00:00:00

THE REPAIRS OF THE MANSION-HOUSE.

The Report relative to the state of the. Mansion-
house was brought forward. It stated that the Com-
mittee had viewed the building, and were of opinion,
that it required to be papered, gilt, and decorated, and
that the necessary improvements would cost 3,0001.,
which sum they applied to the Court to allow them to
draw from the chamber for such purpose.
Mr. Musonovn, the chairman of the General Pur-
poses Committee, stated, that the Committee were
unanimously ot' opinion that the improvements recom-
mended in the Report, should take place as soon as
possible. In consequence of the alterations which had
been in progress for six weeks as to the dome, the
dust and dirt had increased the bad condition of the
house. The clerk of the works had estimated the ex-
penditure at the amount mentioned in the Report, and
the Committee thought the best course to adopt was
to make the improvements F.o perfect as to prevent any
application to the Court for ten or twelve years more.
Mr. WIRE was decidedly of opinion that the Court
ought to pause before they consented to so large an ex-
penditure.
Mr. LAWRENCE said the present proposal of a large
outlay was one of the consequences of agreeing to
take otf the dome of the Mansion-house and no doubt
if the. Court sanctioned the recommendation, that ex-
pense would be followed up by a proposition that
3,0001. more be laid out in carpeting and other mat-
ters which would immediately after be found to he
necessary.—(Hear.)
Mr. R. L. JONES entertained just the same opinion,
and said that on former occasions Committees never
went to work, as regarded the Mansion -house, in so
wholesale a way ; but proceeded to make improve-
ments and repairs by divisions.
Mr. ANDERTON said the present condition of the
Mansion-house was such, that a gentleman could not
reside in it. He, however, could not approve of so
large an outlay without inquiry as to the state of the
funds of the Corporation applicable to such a purpose.
It was ultimately determined to take the Report
into consideration at the next Court.

Mr. ASRURST gave notice of a motion for the pro-
duction of accounts of the expenditure for the last ten
years, on repairs, &c., at the Mansion-house.

OFFICES IN THE GIFT OF THE COMMON COUNCIL.

Mr. MusGßovE called the attention of the Court to
an important report relative to the 26th Standing
Order—" That no person, not having been admitted
to the freedom of the City two years, except entitled
thereto by servitude, or patrimony, shall be elected to
any place or appointment of emolument in the gift of
the Court, or of any committee or commission chosen
by them." The Report stated in substance, in
order to guard against inconvenience, that a fixed
principle in election of offices might be, as far as
possible, adopted and maintained; it was the opinion of
the Committee that the Standing Order should be
amended by the addition of the following words :
" But that this regulation should not extend to clerical
nor educational appointments, nor professorships, nor
to offices to be filled by barristers-at-law, nor to the
offices of Town-clerk and Secondary, nor to the
offices of Clerk of the City Works, the Commissioner
of the City Police, nor the Clerk of the Works of the
Thames Navigation, but that all candidates for those
appointments shall be required to be free at the time
of election." The Report concluded with a list of the
offices proposed to be exempt and the offices proposed
to be not exempt.
A discussion of some length, in which several
Members joined, took place upon the subject,
and it was finally determined that the obli-
gation to be two years free of the City should no
longer exist, but that the rule should stand, that no
man should be eligible to an office under the Corpo-
ration who was not free of the City.