SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAN D. sJ7' 24T 4717. Then it would appear, from your last answer, that these lists are lists of persons who have been exempted from taxation by the last grand jury by com par, son with or reference to the cases of others that enjoyed exemption, rather h^ rom reference to their circumstances and the JJ o{ their " precise - Both because 1 you look at them, you will see what a number of widows there Twa. 1 rrV. T at. the VOiing' f0ri the princiPal Part of them are widows; it was said, tha the grana jury had made allowances to voters which they ou- ht them ; y° U Will see the nameS ° f a g°° d wido" s among 4718. How many widows are there?— 1 think upon that list of 1S3, there are about 46 widows. 4719- Will you make out a list of those whose names apoear upon the two lists that are widows?— The widows are all mentioned upon that list; every name that has " Mrs." put to it, are widows, or else it would be " Mr." 47^ 0. Chairman.] Are there no spinsters among them ?— I suppose that they avould not have " Mrs." put to their name; but, that they would have either " Miss'' put to them, or else their Christian name. 4721. Mr. Serjeant Jackson] You were understood to say that there was a general rule established for the valuation ; for example, in answer to question 2811, " Do you consider that the valuation, on the whole, is a fair valuation of the value of houses occupied by the poorer classes V your answer was, " I be- lieve there was a certain sum first valued, and a proportion of that taken oft' in striking the value upon the poorer houses" ?— That has been confirmed by Mr. Gould. 4722. Then, in question 2812, you were asked, " What is your belief as to the real value of the houses, as compared with the city valuation of 1828 and 1833?" to which you answered, As compared with the rent, the valuation does not bear any proportion." Then in question 2813, you were asked, " What difference do you think there is between the real value, and the value as inserted in the books ?" to which you answered, " Some 7/., 8/., 9/., 10/.. or 12/., and in other cases 4 L or 5 /. difference between the valuation and the rent paid."' Then you were asked, " Do you mean to say that there was that difference between the real value and the valuation of 1828 and 1833?" to which your answer was, " I do." Now it would be inferred from this line of evidence, that, in fact, the houses of persons valued at 5/., or perhaps not valued at all, were really worth 10 /. and upwards? — Yes. 4723. And so on in proportion in that way?— Yes. 4724. Then, in fact, the houses were in truth double the value at which they w ere estimated in the valuation ?-— Yes ; I had a house myself that I got double the rent for that it was valued in the city rates. 4725. Nevertheless, it appears that you have urged the grand jury to exempt a great number of persons w hose houses were really worth 20 I. ?— Yes, I did, be- cause 1 have known them exempt people that paid 501, a year. 4726. Then you did prevail upon the grand jury to exempt from taxation a number of persons whose houses were really worth 20/. a year?— I did. 4727. And more?— And more. 4728. In question 2806 you were asked, « When was this grand jury held, to which you are alluding?" to which you answered, " Last assizes, 111 August 1837. You were then asked, " Before or after the election ?" and your answer was, " Considerably after the election." Now are not you sure that in truth and in fact the election took place immediately after that ?- Probably I spoke of the elec- tion of 183^; it must have been that which I meant. _ . , , , 472Q. Then, in point of fact, you now state that this exemption by the grand jury at August assizes 1837, took place before the election .- Yes; it must have been, of course. 4730 It was immediately before the election r— it was. 4731. It was a few days before the election ?- It must have been. 473- May we not call these two lists winch l^ en put the way of bringing about the exemption v turns; they returned to the jury those w— whose premises were waste, and the grand jury acted upon the returns.- 1 he lists 1 because uie way ui umigmg — r •< • , .. making out returns; they returned to the jury those who ^ P^ l^ whose premises were waste, and the grand acted upon he re urn^ I only returns were those by the collector of the taxes, who « M £ « P the taxes, whether he gathered them in or not; and to sa . s^ the giand ury a • " , hom he could not collect the taxes, there was a printed ee 3 all the parties from w 0.46. Mr. D. Meagher. 5 March 1838. all to printed sheet allowed