SELECT COMMITTEE ON FICTITIOUS VOTES, IRELAND. 4 3 ^ perform their duty accurately, could be guilty of neglect in the discharge of it I could not suppose they would be guilty of neglect, but they might " not go" so critically into every case, where there were a vast number, as they would other- wise J 862. They might not spend so much time on particular cases as they had done upon former occasions when there were but few before them; but never- theless, have you any doubt that they would discharge their duty conscientiously ? 863. And satisfy their minds ?— Yes. 864. Did they swear the individuals ?— They did; before ever they heard any evidence from an individual he was sworn. 865. Mr. Litton.'] Was there other evidence than the man's oath himself upon the question of valuation ?— Very seldom. 866. Was there always his oath ?— Always his oath. 867. And there was sometimes evidence aliunde to corroborate his oath*— Yes. 868. Hence the grand jury in no case allowed the claim, except upon the oath of some one ?— Never, except upon oath. 86g. And they were themselves bound by oath to do their duty as grand jurors ?— Yes. 870. Hence, in every case, there was the tie of a double oath to lead them to a decision ?— There was. 871. Mr. Beamish.] You stated that in many of those cases the parties ap- pealed from the valuation. Are you satisfied that those appeals were always allowed upon the amount of the valuation, or were they allowed upon the ground of the party pleading inability to pay ?— I do not recollect that they ever entered into the inability of the person to pay, if the premises appeared to be worth the money they were valued at. 872. Chairman.] Was not the effect of their permitting those individuals to be struck off the rates, that of raising the rates to other parties ?— Yes, certainly. 873. Supposing the grand jury to have permitted that without sufficient rea- son, were they not acting unjustly with the great body of rate- payers?— I would say they were. 874. Was the feeling of the grand jury generally, so far as you could form "" an opinion, that the valuation was correct, or that it was rather too high?— In seve- ral instances rather too high. 875. Are you aware of any instance in which any positive opinion was ex- pressed by the grand jury that the valuation was too low ?— I did not hear them express an opinion to that effect at any period. 876. Mr. Serjeant Jackson.] Will you state the next person that appears upon the printed register, and who does not appear upon the valuation- book ?— The next is William Hayes, carpenter, Devonshire- street; a house at Devonshire- street; 10 /. householder, registered the 13th October 1832 : I cannot find him in any of the valuations. The next is John Iiealy, labourer, at Bridewell- lane; a house at Bridewell- lane; 10/. householder, registered the 15th October 1832: I cannot find any trace of him in the valuations. The next is William Healy, coach- maker, High- street; a house in High- street; 10/. householder, registered the 16th of October 1832. 877. Where is High- street?— I do not know; I have no such place in either of the " valuations. The next is Timothy Healy, master tailor, Bishop- street; a house in Bishop- street; 10 I. householder, registered the 18th of October 1832: I cannot find any trace of him in the valuation- books. The next is John Hickey carpenter, Vickers- street; a house in Vickers- street; 10 I householder,_ registered the 10th of October 1832 : he was valued in the supplementary valuation at 5 L, and he appealed orally, and his appeal was allowed, and he has never been rated since! The next is Daniel Horgan, labourer, Donovan s- lane; a house and yard at Donovan's- lane; 10 /. householder, registered 20th of October 1832 : 1 cannot find him in any of the valuations. The next is Robert Hollowwood, nailer, Maypole- road ; a house at Maypole- road ; 10 I householder, registered he 20th of October 1832 : I have no sign of him in the valuation. he next is Daniel Hurley, coal- dealer, Barrack- street; a warehouse in Cove- street; 10/. householder, registered 25th of October 1832. ^ 0.46. G 2 '