3ET MO111 2/ J ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF D1U37B LIN. charter which I have stated for public works; and with respect to those fairs and markets, I shall mention an instance where Alderman West assumes to himself the letting three markets, the meat, poultry, and fruit market, to a person of the name of Fin lay and Moss and another person, at an annual rent of 600/. a year, although the ground on which those markets stand, is not worth more than about 601, a year. IIow do you attribute to this agreement any increase of charge to the citizens of Dublin, to which they are not fairly subjected?— The corporation took the fairs and markets for certain specific purposes What did they do with them ?— They apply the profits of the fairs and markets to their own use, as appears in this instance of Alderman West. How do the corporation let those fairs and markets, how are they conveyed to Alderman West ?— I have made particular inquiry, and I find a man of the name of Clarke took those markets. What do the corporation get for those fairs and markets ?— Alderman West derives immediately under the corporation What do the corporation get ?— As to the private agreement between the corpo- ration and Alderman West I have not been able to ascertain that, but Alderman West receives 600 I. a year from Finlav the lessee. From whom does Alderman West receive this ?— From Mr. Finlay, the clerk of the market. What does Mr. West pay the city ?— I cannot tell what he pays the city, but I am quite satisfied that this money ought to go in liquidation of what is levied on the householders in the shape of grand jury cess. What reason have you for that opinion ?— From having made particular inquiry, and having read the charter of the city of Dublin. Does the charter say any thing about grand jury cess ?— No. Then if the charter does not say any thing about grand jury cess, how comes it to pass that you have given it as the reason why those market rents should be applied in liquidation of grand jury cess that the charter so provided?— The charter grants the fairs and markets, together with the tolls and customs for the performance of public works ; and under the head of grand jury cess, those monies are levied on the house- holders of Dublin, which are provided for by the charter. You understand grand jury cess to be a public work, which, under the provision of the statute, the corporation ought, so far as their funds go, to provide for?— The grand jury are in the habit of presenting for public works. Has not all power given to grand juries for levying money by presentment been given by laws passed subsequent to the charter ?— I do not know when grand jury power originated, but the point of view in which I see it is, that the monies which ought to have gone towards defraying the expense of the public works of the city of Dublin, have been levied on the householders of Dublin, through the medium of presenting grand juries. You mean that the funds given by the charter were not applied ?— They were misapplied ; I will mention an instance if the Committee will allow me; I natu- rally conceived that Mr. Madon of Donnybrook, who holds the fair of Donnybrook should pay fees to the corporation, and I went to Mr. Madon, and asked him ; he told me that he was tenant to a Mr. Usher; I thought it rather extraordinary, and I set about ascertaining who Mr. Usher derived those fees from, and I found that Mr. Usher became a tenant to the corporation for lands near Donnybrook, and I found him in what is commonly termed their private rental, for a rent of 100/. a year. Are you aware what Mr. Madon pays to Mr. Usher ?— No I am not; but I un- derstand that Mr. Madon derives a clear profit of about five or six hundred pounds a year from this fair. From what printed document is it that you have derived the statement you have last made ?— From the rental of the city of Dublin. [ The witness delivered in a printed document, purporting to be " 1 he Account of Alderman William Henry Archer, treasurer to the city ot Dublin, for the receipts, issues and profits, accruing to the said city, commencing 29th September 1816, and ending 29th September 1817; to which is prefixed the Rental of the Estates of the said city, j With respect to the ferries, it appears that the corporation of the city of Dublin took them under this charter, at a yearly rent of 24 /.; they are let to Alderman 549- P P 22. Mr. John Peters. ( 31 May)