ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. Are you aware whether the number of lamps has increased in the interval between 1810 and 1823?— On the contrary one of the first acts of the Commis- sioners, subsequently to their obtaining those rates, was to take down nearly one third of those lamps; and from the remainder, one of the two burners which each contained was also removed. Did they not at the same time extend the surface to be lighted by the interval between the bounds of the old city and the circular road ?— They did You cannot inform the Committee what the amount charged for oil was and is by the Commissioners for Paving?— I cannot. Nor the rate at which that oil is charged by the gallon, or tun?— I cannot. Can you inform the Committee whether the tax has diminished in the interval between the year 1810 and 1823?— The tax has been continued at the maximum rate, and is demanded at that rate for the current half year. Have the Commissioners announced their intention to reduce those rates?— They have not. Can you account for the continuance of those rates at the maximum?— Without going into the subject of charges which have heretofore been made against some members of the establishment, I would say that the expense of the present esta- blishment is one material cause. More than one fourth of the sum annually col- lected is expended in salaries, pensions, rents, stationery, and law- costs. Are you not aware that though the salaries of the Commissioners themselves are not decreased, the salaries of subordinate officers of the establishment have been reduced considerably?— They have. Those reductions commenced under the order of Mr. Grant, when he was secretary for Ireland, and amounted to nearly 2000/. per annum. Has the reduction of those salaries occasioned any diminution of the taxes to the public?— It has not. Has it produced any more enlarged or better execution of the duties of the Paving Board?— I rather think not. Are you aware how that sum so saved is appropriated ?— I am not. Is the pavement in a better state now than it was before the increased rates were given ?— It is, in the leading streets. In 1809 Government advanced 40,000 /. to the Commissioners to enable them to put the streets and sewers in a state of permanent repair, and since that time the sums annually applied by the Commissioners to the purpose seldom exceeded 10,000/. Supposing the streets to have been thus put in a state of permanent repair, can you state to the Committee the probable expense of keeping them in that state under an economical system of management?— I hold in my hand a contract entered into with the Commissioners of Paving dated 1801, for one of six districts into which the city was then divided ; by this the contractors were engaged to keep the district in repair for three years, at an average of about one penny and one third of a penny per square yard. Can you state whether that was pavement or gravel?— Pavement. Under the present Commissioners is there not a considerable proportion gra- velled ?— There is. Is not the expense of gravel less than that of pavement?— Considerably less. Have you got any proposal which has been made for a contract?— I hold in my hand a proposal from the same parties who contracted before, dated 1804, tender- ing for another contract upon nearly the same terms. How are the prices of labour at the present moment, as compared with the prices in 1801 ?— Considerably lower. Do you conceive that contracts could be made on equally advantageous terms at the present moment ?— I conceive that they could ; and I am of opinion that gravel, if properly attended to, would be fully sufficient for a considerable portion of the streets. Uo you employ any labour, or pay any horse- hire yourself, in your establishment r — I do. Have you found the rates of daily labour and of horse- hire which you have to pay in your individual capacity, diminished?— Full fifty per- cent. The Commissioners of Paving pay their scavengers one shilling per day, out of which the labourers buy brooms. Can you state what the present rate of charge for paving is by the square yard." — The Commissioners do not take contracts ; they charge to individuals at the rate of 2 s. per square yard for re- paving such parts of the streets as it may be found necessary to break up for private purposes; 6 d. per square yard for new strees, exclusive of 15. 6</. per square foot for the flagging. 145 Mr. Richard Purdy. ( 16 May.) I