Appendix ( A.) J. N. Rustell, Esq. ( lB June.) 30 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE Then the Committee are to understand, that the police in the new town of Lime- rick is correctly administered, and the system of account is open and fair?— Yes, I think so. What is the state of the Old Town?— It is wretched in the extreme. Who is it that directs the police, paving and lighting of the Old Town ?— The grand juries; two of the streets, after a great deal of difficulty, have been lately repaired, which if they had not done, in a short time they would have become impassable; for a number of years they had not given a single presentment for the repairs of them. What effect should you anticipate from any alteration of the law which would place the new town of Limerick under the jurisdiction of the city grand juries?— From the great abuse which we, holding property in the New Town, are aware of their having shown in the power they possessed, we felt great alarm at an increase of their authority, by any alteration of the Act. The Committee then are to understand, that the state of the Old Town, under the administration of the corporation, is one of extreme ruin and decay; and the New Town, under the control of the commissioners, is one of rapid and progressive improvement ?— In fact the New Town has been created by the abuse of power in the Old Town, the respectable inhabitants have been driven from it. How are the magistrates appointed in the city of Limerick ?— They are appointed by the common council. Of how many do they consist?— Five, including the four charter justices. Do you think that that number is sufficient for the preservation of the peace of the county of the city ?— Certainly not. And the preceding observations which you have made with respect to the ap- pointment of other corporate officers, apply also to the appointment of the justices? — Certainly. Are you aware of the present state of Thomond bridge ?— I am. What is the state of that bridge ?— In some respects the piers are good, but the arches are in a state of considerable dilapidation. Is not that bridge of great importance with respect to the communication with that part of the country?— If any thing happened to it the communication on that side of the country would be cut off. Are you at all acquainted with the state of Baals bridge ?— It is in a very bad state ; there is a hole in one of its arches that would almost admit of a carriage going through it; it is in a most ruinous state; I thought it would be carried away the last winter. Have you heard of any complaints which have been made against the magistrates in respect of charges ?— Very many; it is a kind of trade which is carried on, and is a subject of very serious complaint. Do you recollect any outrage that was committed upon certain fishermen on the upper waters of the Shannon ?— Yes; I remember the fishermen going to draw their nets on a part of the Shannon towards the salmon weir, and thai they were fired at by the watchmen placed to protect the salmon weir, and one of them was wounded in the temple by a ball. What then occurred?— The fishermen attacked the watchmen, and took away their arms, and gave them up to the commanding officer of the garrison. Are you aware that that was a contested right?— I am aware that it was a con- tested right, and that we offered to draw a net there at noon day, and to let the right be decided by a court of law. Was that proposal acquiesced in ?— No, it was refused. And the mode of protecting the fishery was by firing upon the fishermen, when in the exercise of their trade?— Yes. What followed upon that?— Bills of indictment were brought before the grand jury, both by the fishermen, and by the watchmen, whose arms were taken away, and the grand jury threw out the fishermen's bills, and found the others, and the men were tried and acquitted. Are you aware of any subsequent transactions with regard to the fishermen ?—• After that, the proprietors of the fishery, lessees of the corporation, applied to the commanding officer for a military party to protect the fishery, in consequence of which I waited upon the general officer, the commander of the garrison, and stated to him that it was purely a civil right, and we were ready to meet it in a court of law ; the result was, he refused to grant the military aid. Has the right been enjoyed since ?— The right has been enjoyed since by the public at large undisturbed, they not choosing to try the question at law. [ The " I