iS2 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE Vr Has not this increased activity rendered the coal- meters unpopular among those Timothy Allen, concerned in the importation of coal ?— I think it has; the more the coal- meters v J ' exert themselves the more they have excited the ill will of persons who are noc ( 23 May.) inclined to deal fairly. Who appoints the water- bailiffs ?— The water- bailiffs are appointed by the Lord Mayor, sheriffs and common council, that is the corporation at large. Do the water- bailiffs supply the captains of the ships with the measuring- tubs, or do the officers of the Guild of Merchants supply the tubs ?— The water- bailiffs only, as long as I have known. By the book which I have produced it appears that they were the persons to make the coal- measures nearly four hundred years ago. Then different parties appoint the measurer and the measures?— Certainly; the corporation of Dublin appoint the water- bailiffs, and the Guild of Merchants appoint the measurers. Are you a coal- measurer?— No, I am not; I never was. Have you any deputy acting for you in that capacity ?— No. Do you receive any fees as a coal- meter?— No; but I will mention candidly that I receive fees out of the metage. What are they ?— There are eighty coal- meters, and when those eighty coal- meters have been put on ships, there is an eighty- first ship put on duty for me, of which I take one half; this amounts to about 33/. a- year; it was given to me by the Guild as secretary to the Coal Committee, as a remuneration for my long services, and for additional trouble which I had and still have in keeping a book so completely indexed that in a moment you can find how many complaints have been made against a coal- meter, and see what his character is. It was also an object of the Guild in giving it to me, to make me some compensation for the loss of fees I sustained as clerk of the Guild. When the Guild made an order several years ago that those coal- meters should not in future be allowed to sell or traffic their places, it reduced my emoluments very considerably; the Guild did that in order to make the men more respectable, and to prevent the improper traffic that was then going on. I lost a good deal of fees by that order; and I have also acted on all occasions ever since as the adviser of the coal- meters, when a point of law may arise, informing them how they should act, and, if necessary, draw informations for them, and try to get them redressed; those were some of the reasons for which I got that allowance, but which is no charge on the public. Is Mr. Ross in partnership with you?— No; there is no particular coal- meter affected by the remuneration given to me. Is there a person of your name a coal- meter?— No, there never was. Is Mr. Oulton similarly situated; has he any advantage from the metage ?— None, excepting the booking, and other fees that he gets from the coal- meters; he has no half- course as I have; he never was a meter. Have you about you any particulars of the complaints made to the Coal Commit- tee?— I have. Of what nature were they ?— Some for inattention to duty; whenever it appears that a complaint is well founded, the man is fined ; he may be fined a course, and that may amount to two guineas loss to him. Can you tell the Committee what reason you have for thinking that the respec- table householders of Dublin are anxious that the meters should continue. I think persons cannot depend on the measure they get from the Quay, unless a coal- meter be present, or unless they go, or send their servants there to watch it home. Do you think the masters of ships are not to be depended on?— We know that self- interest is a strong motive, and no man can resist his own interest. I have known captains often give bad measure, throwing in large coals, so as to arch them, as it is called, and leaves space between them, and leave hollows at top ; as soon as the coal- meter sees the arching, or the top not filled, he may strike it down, and enforce fair measure. From all this I conceive that every householder ought to feel the value of those men, and to be happy to have their superintendence. The opposition to those men you think generally does not arise from the masters of ships?— From the factors chiefly ; the masters of ships, I believe, are not inclined to resist. Have you not remarked any case coming before the Committee, in which masters of ships appear to have assaulted or in any way obstructed those meters?— One of the cases I mentioned was the captain of a ship; but then it appeared to be at the instigation of some factors. What