• ON THE LOCAL TAXATION OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN, 319 What alterations or improvements can you suggest in the management of the potatoeand fowl- market?— With respect to the potato- market I consider, as I have said before, it could be done at much less expense ; and there is another complaint, namely, the charges made in the egg, fowl, and fruit- market; the fees and emolu- ments charged being considered excessive, much more than is necessary for the purpose of affording public convenience. What are they ?— I have described them already ; the charge under 3 cwt. is 2 d. and above 3 cwt. is 3 d. In point of fact, did you ever know 3 cwt. in one sack ?—. Yes. Are they not generally two hundred and a half in one sack ?— I think they are ; it may be fit to explain that. Those fees collected in the markets from the sellers do not go to increase the property of the city, as they ought, so as to render the city more capable of paying its debts, or supporting its own dignity and consequence; they are diverted to individuals whom the Corporation appoint; and the city funds are therefore distributed to individuals who have influence enough to get situations. If those situations were open to competition, with the fees attached to them, the city might derive a very considerable sum from that source ; I dare say about 2,000/. per annum. What are the situations that you wrould set up to public auction?— I mean the markets which have been just described, provided the fees that are now charged in them were legal, and that they have a right to levy them, were individuals afforded an opportunity of bidding for, they would be a source of very considerable revenue. Bidding for the situation of clerks of the market?— I mean the power of levying those charges; if the person in possession had the power of levying those charges,, it would be a source of considerable revenue. What are the situations that you think ought to be set up to public competition ?— The situations of clerks of the market. Then you would set them up to the persons that would undertake the business at the lowest sum ?— I say they would be a source of considerable revenue to the city if they were set up to public bidding, and present fees guaranteed. To the highest or the lowest bidder?— The highest bidder, certainly. The potato, egg, fowl, and fruit, and butter- markets at Little Green, bring in from 1,300/. to 1,400/. a year; the butter- market about 3,000/.; hide- crane about 700/.; oyster and herring- boats about 300/.; hay and straw about 800/., making together 6,100/. per annum. Have the Corporation of Dublin derived any thing from them ?— Nothing, that I know of, except what I have already described. Have not those markets been leased to different individuals ?— I believe not by the Corporation. Who could lease them but the Corporation ?— The greater part of the ground on which the egg, fruit, fowl and potato- markets are held, was Hal pen's I understand that a Mr. Clark and Alderman West claim a right to this ground; that they got leave to open a market there; but I do not believe they paid the Corporation any sum whatever for leave to open that market. Have you any statement to make respecting the butter- market ?—' There were for- merly three export butter- cranes in the city, and three inspectors; at which time the trade was conducted in a most discreditable way, arising from a competition between them, that is, between the three craners and the three inspectors. Upon an application of the merchants, about five or six years ago, the three craners agreed to consolidate the whole business of the city into one crane, they agreeing among, themselves to divide the profit. All the merchants obtained by this alteration was to confine the inspection to one individual. The Lord Mayor, however, would not relinquish his patronage of appointing and keeping up three craners in the city, although one would do the business as well or better than three. The merchants have frequently applied to the Lord Mayor to discontinue two of the craners. I have attended several deputations to him on the subject. Upon the occasion of the death of one of those cranere, the Council of the Chamber of Commerce and Merchants applied to the Lord Mayor not to fill up the vacancy, but he refused to accede to their request, although it served 110 other purpose than making a provision for the individual, who is a carpenter and builder, and following his trade as usual. There . is a sum provided by law to be levied upon all butter coming in from the port of Dublin, by the act of the 52d of George the 3d, c. 104, and it amounts to 3 d.