ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN 185 thing on an election of a meter, and an ancient fee of 5 per annum from each Mr. meter, payable under the order of the Guild, as also a sum of 2 s. id. per annum, Richard Oulton. payable in like manner; the superannuated coal- meters pay me 6d. in the pound v ^ ' agency for collecting their money. May.) Is the inspector remunerated for his services in the same manner?— He is. What are the fees payable to him?— He gets from the captain half- a- crown on each certificate or landing- order; he gets the same from the coal- meters as I do, that is is. id. out of the metage ; but he has nothing for a messenger. Were those fees to both officers established previous to your appointment?— They were. What is the whole amount of your salary for that duty?— The whole amount of the fees and wages paid to the inspector, book- keeper and meters I made a return of to Parliament; the whole amount of fees payable to me out of ships discharging coals in the port of Dublin, on an average, is about 300/. a- year, two thirds of which is paid to me out of the metage, and the remainder of that sum, which does not exceed 100/. per annum, is made up of the fee of ij. 1 d. payable by each ship on obtaining the landing- order, as I have before stated. Here is a copy of the return I made to Parliament. [ The witness delivered in the same, which is as follows:] An Account of all Port Duties, Charges or Fees paid to the Inspector, Book- keeper or the Coal Meters appointed by the Guild of Merchants, Dublin, on all Ships discharging Coals in the Port of Dublin, during three years, ending January 1822, under the name of Fees or Gratuities to Coal Meters, or Inspector or Bock- keepers Fees, or other Fees of whatever description, and by whatever other name designated, with the Name and Amount of Salary of Officer or Officers receiving or collecting the same; distinguishing the Particulars of all Dues, Charges or Fees, to what purpose applied, and under what Law or Authority levied. Amount of Coals discharged out of ships for the year 1819, 250,136 tons, 7 £ barrels. Coal- meters wages on the above quantity of coals, at 6 d. per ton, £. s. d. being their entire charge and receipt ----- 6,253 8 6 William Howard, inspector, his fees, 1,793 ships at 2 s. 8d. \ per 242 16 -£ Richard Oulton, book- keeper, fees on 1,836 ships and Custom House bottoms at 1 s. 1 d. per - -. - - - - 99 9 - £• 6,595 13 61 The above wages and fees are received by authority of the Guild of Merchants, who have the appointment of the coal- meters and officers, and there is not any other fee or wages received or chargeable on coal- ships by this establishment. Amount of coals discharged out of ships for the year 1820, 257,328 tons, 5 barrels. Coal- meters wages on the above quantity of coals, at 6 d. per ton, £. s. d. being their entire charge and receipt ----- 6,433 4 3 William Howard, inspector, his fees on 1.731 ships, at 2 s. 8 d.\ per 234 8 1 \ Richard Oulton, book- keeper, his fees on 1,776 ships and Custom House bottoms at 1 s. 1 d. per - - - - - - 96 4 - £. 6,763 16- 4 \ Amount of coals discharged out of ships for the year 1821, 236,494 tons, 6 barrels. Coal- meters wages on the above quantity of coals, at 6 d. per ton, £. s. d. being their entire charge and receipt - - - - - 5,912 7 4? William Howard, inspector, his fees on 1,779 ships, at is. 8d. \ per 240 8 1 § Richard Oulton, book- keeper, his fees on 1,820 ships and Custom House bottoms, at 1 s. 1 d. per - - - - - - 98118 £. 6,251 7 2 549' Coal