2/ J ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. 137 Is there any contract for lighting the city ?— No. Mr. Richard Palmer made offers for it, but Major Taylor would not listen to it; he advertised for lighting with gas,_ in the year 1815, as a matter that would be desirable ; but he has set his face against it, with marks of hostility. Is the flagging of Dublin all effected with Yorkshire stone ?— Not now; it was for a considerable time; but Mr. Peel was applied to, when he was in Ireland ; and he interfered; however, afterwards, when Mr. Peel returned, Mr. Taylor sent to England again. Has he since continued to procure the Yorkshire stone?— Within the last eight or ten months he has ceased to do so. Are you aware of the difference of price between the Yorkshire stone and the Irish stone ?— The Irish flagging comes a great deal cheaper ; for instance, the York- shire flagging will not bear re- cutting after eight or ten years, but the Irish flagging can be re- cut for 40 years. I also waited on Mr. Mullens and other eminent builders, and their opinions are decidedly the same. Vast sums of money have been sent to England for flagging; and I am firmly of opinion that on an investigation of the accounts it will be discovered that there have been large sums in some persons hands for above a twelvemonth, or perhaps more, contrary to Act of Parliament. Have you any reason to find fault with the manner in which the city of Dublin is paved; do your objections extend to the paving as well as to the system of lighting?— They do, because I think it might be done much cheaper and better than latterly. Does it strike you that the paving, comparatively, is worse than the paving in the city of London ?— It ought to be a great deal better, for the tax is six times as much in Dublin as it is in London. Do you know whether the Commissioners are unwilling, if applied to, to exercise their powers?— I think not. Do not they charge upon any works done ?— Yes, they do. Have you found any unwillingness on their part, if a representation is made to them of a violation of the Act of the 47th of the late King, to put the provisions of the law into execution ?— Never. Then how do you account for what you stated respecting their unwillingness to contract for the paving and lighting, because there is a special clause in the Act to that effect ?— It is generally supposed that they will not pursue the most saving system that could be adopted; and no doubt if that were established the charges attending the different establishments are very excessive, and as there are a great variety of officers they are liable to be pillaged. Has not the price of oil fallen very considerably since the year 1807 and the intervening years?— It is not now more than one half. The wages of workmen have also fallen ?— Very considerably. Are you aware of any considerable reduction of salaries made by the authority of the Paving Board ?— The salaries of the inferior officers have been decreased. For instance, the office of supervisor of scavengers at 100/. a- year?— I do not know with respect to that. Do you know whether the office of supervisor, at a salary of 120/. has been reduced ?— I do not know. Do you know whether the situation of supervisor has not been struck off ?— I do; only one is now employed. Do you know that certain reductions of salaries have taken place ?— Yes. But no reduction of salaries has taken place on the part of the Commissioners themselves?— Most certainly not, that I could discover. The price of oil having fallen, and workmens wages having fallen, and the price of forage having fallen, and salaries being reduced, how do you account for the tax being as high now as it was formerly ?— The Commissioners do not seem inclined to relieve the citizens by any means; the streets are worse paved now than they were six years ago ; they are now in a very bad state. There are the same number of collectors of the tax now as there have been heretofore ?— There are. Do those collectors get the full rate of per- centage?— They do ; there could be a great saving with regard to collection. There are a number of gentlemen who have had annuities for the last fourteen years, who do not do any business; they have an annuity of 200 /. a year. If they were obliged to take the collection, or pay persons for so doing out of their fund, it would be a great relief to the citizens by lightening them of such a burden, Does 549- BK ill Mr. Michael Maley. < 15 May.) I 4 II fill ii^' ll I M r I