ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN. 173 more fully. My information went no farther than to state that those individuals, with one Ross, obtained a moiety of the fees from half- course men : this class consists of those measurers who are not in attendance upon any ship at full fees, and not often indulged with what is called full- course; they however obtain the largest shi|> s, so as in some measure to make up for the division of the fees,; and it has been mentioned to me that the lull- course measurers were dissatisfied at this regulation, but were afraid to complain of those three individuals, as they had considerable authority and influence. How do you mean that they have great influence ; in what connexion ?— Oulton, I understand, is brother- in- law to Alderman King; and I have been informed that this Ross is some sort of a servant about Alderman King's place. Are there any anchorage or slippage- fees, or sums of money levied from oyster and herring- boats, wind- bound ships, sailing or steam- packets and by whom, and under what authority?— There are fees levied of 3s. 4 d. upon every wind- bound ship, is. id. upon every herring- boat that happens to have two masts; 1 s. 8d. upon every herring- boat with one mast; and on oyster boats 1 s.; on each and every ves- sel, every time they come into the port, and packet- ships, whether steam or sail- ing, are also liable to 3 s. A, d. There is also a further contribution obliged to be given of part of the cargo of boats laden with oysters, every one, whether large or small, that comes into Dublin, must give five hundred to the Lord Mayor, and one hundred to the water- bailiffs; and every herring- boat gives is. 6d. to the clerk of the market, for what is called settling the price. There has been an order of the House of Commons directed to the ballast- office, to make a return of those charges, and the ballast- office have sent in this answer; " The sums of money collected under those heads are not collected for the use or under the authority of the corpo- ration for preserving and improving the port of Dnblin." Part of what I have just mentioned, namely, what fs collected from the wind- bound ships, and from herring and oyster- boats, is collected by the harbour- masters in the employment of the ballast- office; and it has been generally understood that it was for the ballast- ofiice, for the anchorage and slippage. Was there any bounty on coals borne coastwise to Dublin ?— There was till lately ; it commenced under an Act of the 31st Geo. 2, c. 14, and was enforced till the ist of May 17G6, and was again continued by the 47th Geo. 3, c. 45, to the 25th of March 1821, and has been discontinued since. Is Dunleary of general utility to the trade of Dublin ?— Not in any respect of as much advantage as the charge on the trade will be injurious; besides, the harbour being at a distance of about five miles from the city affords shelter to every descrip- tion of shipping passing through the Irish Channel. Ships in the Dublin trade seldom go into the asylum- harbour, for so far it has been more resorted to in hard weather by ships passing to and from Liverpool. Without a ship- canal from Rings- end to the pier it cannot materially serve the trade of Dublin. The leading merchants there, together with the corporation for improving the port, were averse to the erec- tion of the pier, until they were assured by the advocates of the measure that it would not be attended with any additional charge to the trade of Dublin, it being an asylum for the general trade of the Irish Channel; it is called the Asylum Harbour, and very properly so; its utility may be compared to what Holyhead is to the general trade of England, the one on the Irish side being built at the expense of the trade of Dublin, whilst that of Holyhead, and several other asylum- harbours in England, are at the expense of the nation. The revenues for this harbour, raised by Act of Parliament, 56 Geo. 3, c. 62, say 011 coal- ships, id. per ton; on all British traders 4d. per ton; also anchorage 8s. if d.; on invoicing is. id. ; further for bond is. id. on outvoice ; on each coal- ship 4s. 4d., and on the entry, inwards or outwards, whether prime or post, 1 s. 1 d., each; and upon a cocket for each shipment on board every vessel, 4 s. 4d. The amount of those charges exceeds 8,000/. per annum. They are not only burthensome, but extremely vexatious to the trade. Do you conceive that Ilowth Harbour is equally useless to the city of Dublin as Dunleary Harbour ?— I think Dunleary Harbour is of more advantage. At whose expense has Howth Harbour been constructed, amounting to 500,000/. — At the expense of the nation ; but Howth is not calculated to afford shelter for large vessels, and is of very little use to the trade of Dublin. Mr. Isaac Stewart. ( 23 May.) +* C 549- X x Mr.