ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. 47 UK are you of opinion, that the grand jury are bound to present for the salaries of officers, subject to their own discretion as to the amount ?— I believe that the grand jury are authorized to appoint certain officers, if they think it necessary ; and for those officers, with the exception of three, a maximum salary is fixed by law ; I have reason to believe, that the grand juries in the city of Dublin, have uniformly appointed every officer which the law allowed them to do; and that they have in every case, carried the maximum of salary to its extreme point. Are the grand jury of the city of Dublin singular in that practice?— I am not possessed of knowledge that will enable me to answer that question generally. Do you believe that such has been the practice of every grand jury in Ireland ?— I am not acquainted with the practice, but I believe not; I have heard of instances to the contrary. Are the grand jury bound to support the prisoners and the convicts committed to gaol?— They are unquestionably bound to support prisoners committed for trial; but whether the law makes it imperative upon them to support and to clothe prisoners after conviction, I am not sufficiently informed ; but I rather doubt the fact. Are not all the contracts for the supplies that are necessary for the city of Dublin prisons, previously advertised in the papers ?— I believe so; at the same time it has been stated to me, that the grand jury advertisements in the city of Dublin are limited to a certain newspaper; I am not aware of the fact from my own know- ledge, nor have I recently examined into it. Do you believe they are put in Saunders's News- letter ?— I do. Do you believe that Saunders's News- letter is the great advertising paper of the city of Dublin?— 1 believe so as to general, but not as to mercantile advertise- ments ; and 1 am equally bound to state, that it has always been considered as the favourite paper of the corporation of the city of Dublin. However, you think it is best calculated for giving publicity to advertisements?— I doubt that with respect to contracts; for I have reason to believe that it is not the newspaper which is most read by the mercantile or trading classes of society in Dublin. In point of fact, have you ever heard that a contract has been given by the grand jury to a higher contractor when there was a lower before them ?— I have never heard such fact stated; if it occurred, I conceive I could not possibly know it. Are you aware that the proposals are all sent sealed to the secretary of the grand jury?— I believe so. Are you aware that no proposal is received after the first day of term ?— I should suppose that would depend upon the form of the advertisement. Is it not the uniform mode, that no tender is received after the first day of term ?— I was not aware that tiie time is limited by law. Are you aware that, on the first day of term, all those proposals are laid on oath before the secretary of the grand jury ?— I presume such is the practice. And they are opened by the foreman of the grand jury the first day of term ?— I do not know that fact. Are you aware that the proposals are laid before the court 011 oath ?— I believe such is the law, and ought to be the practice. Are you aware that samples are sent in before the grand jury, with private marks, so that no person knows who the sample comes from ?— I was not aware of that fact. Can you suggest any improvement in the mode adopted by the grand jury in receiving contracts ?— I believe that the system of contracts is, in the first instance, the fairest mode by which supplies could be obtained, and that if fairly administered by the grand jury ; it is only in the subsequent operation of that system that any objection could arise to it. By subsequent operation you mean a deficiency in the quality of the supplies, or difficulties thrown in the way of the contractors ?— I do. Are you aware what steps are taken by the grand jury to secure a supply equal to the pattern ?— I believe it is the peculiar province of the inspector of prisons to ascertain that the supply is equal to the pattern. Besides that, do the grand jury themselves take any steps to secure the performance of the inspector's duty in that respect?— While they are assembled during term, I have always understood that they occasionally visit the prisons. Have you heard, or are you aware, that, before they dissolve, they appoint 549- . """ Mr. John M'MuUen. — — j ( 2 May.) a committee