214 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE What did he pay ?— He paid about 500/. or 8001, less than I did. Was it let by public advertisement ?— Almost always by public advertisement and public bidding at auction ; sometimes by sealed proposals. What has the corporation received by way of income arising out of the tolls by lease, or otherwise, for the last three years ?— Nothing. Why have they received nothing ?— They were unable to collect it. On account of this opposition?— Yes. Was not the paving board appointed to perform these duties for which the tolls were intended to pay ?— Partially. Notwithstanding the corporation have been, as you have described, so deprived of their income from tolls, are they not bound either to pay this 2,200/. a year to the paving board for paving and scavenging, or to perform the duty of paving and scavenging?— We do not think they are, which is the reason we dispute it. Then you mean to say that the corporation are not bound to do this duty of sca- venging and paving ?—- I think they are not. Then they have no duties of the kind to perform ?— No. Then the paving board have those duties to perform ?— Yes. Then to what purposes would you apply the produce of those tolls in case the corporation were to levy them ?— We should put the exceedings of them into the general funds of the city, after paying the paving board 2,200 /. a year. By what right ?— The charter of King Charles. Does the paving board discharge duties ?— The part they perform is the paving and scavenging. What are the other duties ?— The other duties were, to make sundry buildings to a very large amount, and give ground to hold various markets, for which we have advanced sums of money and given leases as a remuneration, as I have already stated, the income of which at this moment would amount to a very large sum. Would not the corporation be bound to continue to pay this 2,200/. a year to the paving board, provided their income from the tolls and customs enabled them so to do ?— Yes. Do you consider that the corporation, if restored to their income arising out of the tolls and customs, would be bound to apply the proceeds of those tolls and customs for public works, for the benefit of Dublin ?— No, I do not. Why not ?— Because they are bound no further than the commutation under the Act of Parliament of paving and scavenging. Then you conceive that the only remaining duty to be performed by the corpo- ration is the paving and scavenging?— Yes. Does the paving board continue to perform the duty of paving and scavenging, notwithstanding they have not latterly received the amount of 2,200/. a year from the corporation ?— They do. The paving board not receiving that amount from the corporation, from what fund do they scavenge and pave?— I understand that they say their funds are short of their duties, and that they are unable to carry it on for want of money. Do you know what were their funds last year ?— No, I do not. From what funds do the paving board scavenge and pave ?— From the taxes levied on the city of Dublin You have already said, that if the corporation continue to receive their income from tolls, they would continue to pay this 2,200 /. a year to the paving board ?— I have. Is it not then a necessary consequence, that if the corporation continue to pay that 2,200 /. a year to the paving board, the taxation on the inhabitants of Dublin ought to be proportionably decreased ?— Certainly. Was the taxation of the city of Dublin less in the year the paving board received this 2,200 /. a year from the corporation than it is now ?— It was not, but it ought to be. Do you consider that the discontinuance of the payment of tolls and customs would be of such advantage to the community as that that sacrifice of the property of the corporation of Dublin ought to be endeavoured to be provided for?— I find it very hard to answer that question; the corporation would be glad to have the money and the payers would be glad not to pay it. You have said that the corporation hold their tolls under charter ?— Under the 28 th of King Charles 2. You have stated a variety of works that they are bound to perform; are those works completed ?— All of them. Did