S 8 2 ENGLISH LOCAL AFFAIRS 



debt upon it at the outset an attempt was made in January 1912 to raise a fund of 100,- 



000 in 1 2 days by means of an organised campaign, which was not, however, fully success- 

 ful. The Port of London Authority adopted in July 1912, a design by Mr. Edwin Coop- 

 er for chief offices to be erected in Trinity Square, E.G. In January 1912 the London 

 County Council sold the site at the eastern junction of the Strand and Aldwych to the 

 Commonwealth of Australia, for 379,756, for the erection of offices. 



The Corporation of London (Bridges) Act 1911, authorised the Corporation to con- 

 struct a new bridge over the Thames between Southwark and Blackfriars bridges, to 

 widen St. Paul's Churchyard, and to carry out other improvements in the city of Lon- 

 don. The new bridge will be probably known as St. Paul's bridge. On June i, 1911. 

 the subways constructed to relieve the traffic at the Elephant and Castle were opened 

 for pedestrian traffic, and on October 26, 1912, a tunnel beneath the Thames at Wool- 

 wich was opened for foot-passengers. 



Other public buildings and municipal enterprises have been reported as under: 



Birmingham. In July 1912 was opened an extension of the Birmingham Council House 

 upon land on the opposite side of Edmund Street. The scheme, still in progress at the end 

 of the year, has cost upwards of 200,000, out of which 50,000 was provided out of a 

 bequest by the late John Feeney (proprietor of the Birmingham Daily Post) for an extension 

 of the Art Gallery. Provision has been made for a museum of Natural History. 



Blackpool. The new promenade known as Princess Parade was opened in 1912, extending 

 from the north pier to Cocker Street: the cost was 25,000. 



Cardiff. The visit of the King and Queen to South Wales in 1911 was an occasion of 

 gratification to Welsh nationalist pride. The King laid the foundation stone in Cardiff 

 of the National Museum, which with the University College and the National Library are 

 the outward signs of a great Welsh renaissance. In two other important respects the right 

 of Wales to be treated as a distinct autonomous unit has been recognised. For the purposes 

 of the Insurance Act Cardiff has been selected as a centre for the principality with its own 

 commissioners and staff; and the Welsh National Memorial Association, which has a fund 

 of more than 200,000 publicly subscribed for a campaign against tuberculosis, has received a 

 royal charter and the full status of a national institution. 



Chester. Municipal progress includes a hydro-electricity scheme (1912) for utilizing by 

 means of turbines the water-power at the Dee Mills for an auxiliary supply of electricity. 



Dudley. The corporation received in 1912 a bequest of 30,000 from the late Mr. 

 Brooke Robinson (formerly M.P. for the borough) for an art gallery or museum. 



Hereford. The city library has been extended by the addition of an art gallery provided 

 by the late Sir Joseph Pulley and Mr. C. T. Pulley, High Sheriff (1912). The Roman site 



01 Dineclor Camp, near the city, has been purchased for a public pleasure ground. 

 Hertford. In May 1911 Lord Salisbury offered the castle and grounds at Hertford to the 



corporation for public use at a nominal rent; and the transfer of the building, in which the 

 municipal offices are established, took place in the following year. 



Hull. An art gallery was opened in 1910 by Mr. T. R. Ferens, M.P., who has largely 

 contributed to its erection and upkeep, and also presented to the town in 1911 twelve alms- 

 houses as a memorial to King Edward VII, and a playing field near the East Park. A ne\v 

 museum has been designed to illustrate the shipping and fishing industries. 



Leicester. A great fire in October 1911 destroyed St. George's Church and an important 

 hosiery factory. A scheme has been put forward for a public hall near Victoria Park. 



Liverpool. The cathedral has been enriched by the gift of a reredos by Mr. Mark Wood, 

 from designs of Mr. Gilbert Scott. It was decided in the autumn of 1912 by the cathedral 

 committee to proceed with the building of the first transept. A representative exhibition 

 of the works of Albrecht Diirer was held in the Walker Art Gallery in April 1910. Mr. 

 Andrew Carnegie in August 1911 opened at Sefton Park a library worked by a staff of women. 



Manchester. Mr. Carnegie also in the same year presented 15,000 to Manchester 

 towards the establishment of three branch libraries. A church house, with a hall seating 

 2,000 persons, was opened in October 1911 by the Archbishop of York. 



Middlesbrough. A transporter bridge across the Tees, erected by the Corporation, was 

 opened by Prince Arthur of Connaught in October 1911. 



Northampton. Among important new buildings are a Carnegie library, costing 15,000, 

 in Abington Street, a theatre, and new buildings for the grammar school (1911). 



Norwich. Serious damage was caused, ana much suffering occasioned, by a great rain- 

 storm and floods on August 26, 1912. At Brundall near the city 8.06 in. of rain fell, and 

 more than 7 in. over an oval area including Norwich and the district of the Broads. The 

 damage to communications was enormous. Large relief funds were raised. 



Nottingham. A number of improvements have been carried out in Nottingham, among 

 the most noteworthy being the widening of Carrington Street and Great Friar Gate at a cost 

 of 60,000. A still larger scheme is that in the Carter Street area, estimated to cost 139.000. 



