SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. Mr. Daniel Meagher, called in ; and Examined. 1 1 9 2717. Chairman.] WHAT are you ?- A merchant and rectifying distiller, re- Mr. D. Meagher. siding in Patrick- street in the city of Cork. 0 271 8. How long have you been an inhabitant of Cork ?— Fifty years 22 Februai7 l838. wine719' What ' ine ^ y° U a merchant?— General merchandise; " principally 2720. Have you any special knowledge of the value of houses in the city of Cork ?— I have. J 2721. Have you property of that description yourself?— I have. 2722. Mr. Beamish.] Did you attend the registry of 1832 under the Reform Bill r— I did. 2723. Are you aware whether there was evidence tendered at that period for all the parties who came up to register their votes?— Very particular evidence. 2724. Was any opposition raised by the parties attending, in order to make them prove substantially that they had value ?— Yes ; the Conservative party had agents, and lawyers, and attornies employed. 2725. From your knowledge of the registry, do you conceive that there was every proper measure taken that no person should be registered who was not fully entitled ?— Certainly. 2726. You conceive that there was every pains taken to ascertain the real value before the party was registered ?— There was. 2727. Do you allude to those measures being taken with regard to those re- gistering upon the Liberal interest, or what is commonly termed the Conservative ? — The Liberal party had not the means of either opposing or supporting as the Conservative party had. They had counsel, and agents, and parties paid ; they seemed to have better ways and means than the parties we were interested for were likely to have. I was myself never away from the registry court in 1832, the three courts, from the day they commenced to the day they ended, and I am ready to give answers to any questions connected with that registry. 2728. Have you seen the list of persons that appear upon the registry, and who do not appear upon the rate- books of the city ?— I have. 2729. You have also seen a list of those which appear upon the registry and yet are not valued for the sum of 10 upon the rate- books?— I have. The value on the rate- books and the rents paid are no guide at all. 2730. Are you able to prove the value of any premises that appear to be in that situation ?— I am. 2731. Have you got list No. 1, of Mr. Lane?--- I have. 2732. You see the name of John Ahern, the first name on that list?— In the alphabetical book I have in my hand, I have a list of only such persons as voted at the last election ; Ahern did not vote at the last election, but Mr. Gold, who is waiting here, has an account of that person. 2733. Will you take the first name on your list which you are able to speak to ? — Here is a man of the name of Timothy Buckley, of Douglas- street, registered o of a shop and dwelling- house : he is valued in 1832, 6 I.; that man pays a rent of 13 I. 105. per annum for his house. 2734. Do you conceive that he is fully qualified ?— Certainly. 2735. Do you conceive that you are a competent person to judge of the value ot a house ?— Fully. 2736. Did you visit that man's house ?— I did. 2737. And you are satisfied that he has a full qualification ?—\ es. 07Q8 ( TO Mr Lane.) Do you find that man's name in the valuation ?— Not in the printed book, but in the collector's book; he is valued at 61. in the valuation Of l828. , TT , QD 0739 ( To Mr. Meagher.) You say he pays 13 I. 10 s. rent .-- He does. 2740. Chairman.] What does he pay that rent for ?- His dwelling- house and ' h2P74i. Is there anything attached to it in the shape of a yard?- Nothing more than that belonging to a dwelling- house; the usual yard of a dwelling- house 2742. There is no land anywhere else belonging to it?- None but the house , lS2l743. How long ago is it since he paid this rentr- He paid it last September, and has paid it for years. 2744> js 0.46. Q 4