The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-26 00:00:00

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IN BELFAST.

This commission, which has been appointed to inquire
into the municipal aiLirs of the borough of Belfast, com-
menced its sittings yesterday, when the commissioners,
d. Major, Q.C. and Mr. C. Copinger, Q.C., stated the
objects for which the inquiry had been granted. It is to
ascertain—
" What moneys have been borrowed by the Corporation
of Belfast, under the several acts for the improvement of the
borough of Belfast ?
" What moneys have been expended by the Corporation
of Belfast under these acts ?

" Whether any moneys have been borrowed by the Corpo-
ration of Belfast otherwise than under the Acts for the im-
provement of the botough of Belfast ?
" Whether any moneys have been expended by the Cor-
poration of Belfast otherwise than under said Acts?
" What sums of money borrowed by the Corporation of
Belfast, under said acts, are new properly chargeable on
the rates and ether corporate property ?

" What sums of money so. Nine-wed are not properly
chargeable en the rates and corporate property ?
" What sums of money expended by the Corporation of
Belfast are not properly chargeable on the rates and other

corporate property?
" What sums of money so expended by the corporation
are preperly chargeable on the rates and other corporate
pi operty ?
" Whether any and what sums of money so borrowed
and expended, and not chargeable upon the rates and other
corporate property, have been borrowed and expended
bond fide for the benefit of said borough ?
" 6hould the same, or any part thereof, be charged on
the rates or other corporate property?
" Should the same be charged on any and what part of
such rates and property?
" Would it be for the benefit of the borough that any and
what matters now in litkation in relation to such moneys so
borrowed and expended should be adjusted and arranged ?
' " Upon what terms should such litigation be adjusted
and arranged ?
" What is the nature and extent of the rates and taxes
upon property in the borough, levied by the Corporation of
Belfast ?
" Or levied by any board or body corporate, having juris-
diction within the borough ?

" Would it be desirable to consolidate any such board or
body corporate with the corporation ?
" Or to conolidete any such board or body corporate
with each other ?
" How, and iu what manner, should such consolidation
take place or be made ?
" Should any provision be made for a single and uniform
collection of the rates ?
" Should any consolidation be made, what provision
should be made with respect to the present assets acid liabi-
lities of the boards sr bodies to be consolidated, and with
respect to their limits and jurisdiction ?
" Having regard to any prospective system of valuation
in Ireland, should any, and what, alterations be made in the
scale or scales of taxation within the borough ?
" Did any power heretofore vest in said boards or bodies
corporate, or in any of them, to carry into effect any pur-
pose authorised by Parliament?
" Should such power be revived or renewed ? _
inch
" Should any change be made in the powers of
boards or bodies corporate?
"
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THE POTATO DISEASE IN IRELAND.
The Northern Whig, which is an authority on agricul-
tural matters, has the following observations on the state of
the potato crop. At the present period the information thus
afforded is of great importance :—The progress of the potato
disease is now a question of the deepest importance. not
only to the agricultural interest, but to the general popula-
tioncountry.- The accounts which we have received
week from various parts of the counties of
o f
during thebe
past
Down and Antrim mention that the potato stalks in a great
many instances bear unmistakeable evidence of the ap-
pearance of the disease, but the tubers have been gene-
rallyinterest look upon the condition
of found to be in a sound and healthy condition. In
the farming
of the crop, notwithstanding the well-knew n nblackness
of leaves and stalks, as highly satisfactory, in that
the Ards
dis-
trict the tubers are well matured, sodthat is
as a safeguard against any serious consequences
from the blight. From the nei hb arising
gou rhood of Saint-
field, our correspondent, writing yesterday, states :
~ The blight is universal over
the potato fields here ;
but the roots, with very f,
There will be a yieldthis crop
exceptions, remain sound.
of
crop much greater than during
any season for the last seven years.' Our Randalstown
correspondent, writing
to say the crop, in oYwesalenrddaY'observes. that. he is sorry
unmistakeable symptoms of marshy
bliglit bustit iuna tat on s,
much presents
milder
form than during pas' years. As yet the tubers are per-
fectly :curd, triad lie entertains a belief that, should the
present fine weather continue, the crop may altogalex
escape from any serious consequence arising from the
disease.. In the counties of Louth and Armagh, the early
potat..) crop, en the whole, has turned out well. In some
fey: 1: rids diseased tubers have ken discerned, but. even
there Lay bar an insignificant proportion to the general
crop. In size, fitinw-ss, and flavour, the crop in these
counties bears coatpatison with the esculent grown p.-evi-
ens to trim famine years. It is also a remarkable peculiarity
in the tubers this season that ' flounders' and ' white
rocks' are of an exceedinOy 1; rgc siz.s, and that three lately
olThte.td promise a nr•st abundant vil. In the county of
Mon' ghan a severe blight has 'fallen on the crop, but
all on r accounts agree in stating that its ravages have been
avert ?td in the stwk, a:.(1 that the tubers, generally, appear
to be untouched by the di3ease. From the soult and west nf
Irellivd our accounts are equally satisfactory. In King's
Ccun ty the crop continues to promise admirably ; and, in
some instances in which the stalks Inked withered, the
tuber s, we understand, are found to be sound and healthy.
In foe tt, in that county, the potato seems to have recowhe ver re
the s, ;witless and firmness of its best periods. Every
re
in the , county of Sligo the crop is abundant, and generally it
is heathy ; but in two cr three districts the blight has be-
gun t' ) rintrifist itself. Its traces there, however, are not
as yet extensive. From the county of Wexford we l aern
of
that .here will be a luxuriant and excellent produce
potatoes To he sure, the disease has unmistakeably shown
itself on both stalks and tubers, near the sea, ',tit the
abun lance of the produce renders the loss by disease COW-
parat Ivelv snivii •, and even at the present busy season for
falni I,r 3 il,e market of that tutu is well fUpplie.d ',NMI the
.3 ' • ',