144 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE i Mr. Docs it appear to you that all the officers appointed under this Act have the Michael Maley. maxjmum salary allowed by this Act?— Yes. 1 And according to your knowledge there has been no decrease in latter times in 05 May-) t| iQse saiarjes?.— Certainly not, excepting the inferior officers. Do you know any instance of hardship in the powers exercised by the Commis- sioners in pulling down houses, and erecting porticos?— I heard some com- plaint on that subject; but as they did not relate to the tax, I did not concern myself about them. Mr. Richard Purdy. ( 16 May.) Veneris, 16° die Maij. THOMAS SPRING RICE, ESQUIRE, ix THE chair. Mr. Richard Purdy, again called in; and Examined. CAN you give the Committee any information on the subject of the paving and lighting tax?— The amount levied by the Commissioners of paving is excessive; the rates are continued at the maximum authorized by the acts of 1809 and 1814, although the value of labour and oil has fallen nearly fifty per- cent since those rates were established ; the reduction in oil may be seen by this abstract, from the London prices current in 1810, 1815, and 1823. Did you make this abstract yourself?— I did. [ The Witness delivered in the same, which is as follows:] Prices of oil at London.