288 APPENDIX TO REPORT OF SELECT COMMITTEE, & c. . V ' I . V> . » - cc Appendix N° 17. PAPER respecting the Cork local Act, which compels the sale of Coal by weight. THE statements made, with respect to the effects said to be produced by the Cork local Act, which compels the sale of coal by weight, is altogether founded in error. It has been said, that the Cork Act does not answer the expectations formed of it. The fact is precisely otherwise ; it has given most general satisfaction. The only persons who question its propriety, are those, whose complaining most strongly proves the benefit of the Act. Persons who were in the habit of defrauding the buyers, by making the coal which came to their hands at one measurement, greatly exceed that measurement by breaking it into small coal, and by the manner of measuring. The fair sellers, and the buyers, are both equally pleased at the adoption of weight for measure. By way of confirming the statement, it has been said, that " the Cork people were " formerly in the habit of getting Whitehaven coals; they now get Mart/ port, which is " the worst description of coals." I rather think that Newport, and not Maryport, must have been meant; but in either case, the suggestion is equally unfounded. What is meant by formerly, it is hard to guess. About twenty years ago, Cork was chiefly supplied with coals from Whitehaven, Workington, and Maryport. Shortly after that period, the Newport coals were introduced, and were so much more approved of, that the importation of the others rapidly declined, and for the last fifteen years, Cork has been almost exclusively supplied with Newport coals. There has been no change in this respect since the passing of the Cork Act, which has been in force only since October last. There seems not any probability that there will be any change, nor is there any rational cause for making a change. It has been said, that the consumers not having it in their power to go to ships, are obliged to go to factors, and the coals have been much dearer since that Act. Some years back, it was discovered by the owners of vessels, that much time was lost by making the vessels stores for the retail of coals, and they preferred, and introduced, the habit of selling their cargoes at once to factors, who retailed them. Of late years therefore, the habit of selling coals by retail, from vessels, has scarcely been practised at all. The consequences, however, have been injurious, for as the rent of stores was much less than the expenses attending the keeping the vessel and her crew, and as a vessel was thus enabled to discharge in two days, which otherwise would be kept for weeks, the price of coals was considerably diminished. One fact is worth twenty arguments.— The captain of one Newport vessel, in conse- quence of being able to discharge her cargo thus rapidly, made seven voyages in the months of April and May, three of which, at most, he would only have been able to ac- complish under the old system. The practice of selling coals by weight, prevailed before the Act, with those who were in the habit of giving consideration to the subject, the making it compulsory to sell, generally, in that way, was adopted, in order that the benefit of that mode of purchase should be extended to those who were too ignorant to think for themselves. To attribute such effects as have been suggested, to an Act in operation but a few months, is, on the face of it, absurd; but how will the case appear when it is stated, that coals have not been for several years back, so cheap as they were since the Act has been in operation. They did not exceed twenty- two shillings the ton during the whole winter, a price un- precedented, of late years, for cheapness. The representations contained in this paper, will, if necessary, be proved by hundreds, nay, by thousands of the inhabitants of Cork. APPENDIX, N° 18. AN ACCOUNT of all Sums of Money collected by the Corporation of Dublin, under the 49th Geo. 3. c. 80. on account of Metal Main Pipes; and also, an Account showing the application of same for the year 1822 ; and distinguishing any Reduction or discontinuance of payments, which have been made in consequence of the disallowances of the Commissioners of Accounts in 1817. CHARGE: Collected on account of Metal Main, from 29th Sept. 1821 to 29th Sept. 1822 T DISCHARGE: Paid off 41 Debentures, from 29th Sept. 1821 to 29th Sept. 1822 • Interest on-- d° - - ' - Paid interest on Debt to 25th March 1822 IN