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LIFE OF CHARLES HALIDAT. XXXIX
purchase the interest of the owner of the Skerries Lighthouse,
and would then be able under another statute to fix Lighthouse
tolls with the assent of the Privy Council, the
Chamber of Commerce and the Directors of the Steamboat
Companies combined and brought an action in the Queen's
Bench, in the name of Mr. Boyce, a ship owner, against Mr.
Jones, the Skeriies Lighthouse owner, and obtained a verdict
that the tolls were illegal.
This verdict and judgment were
obtained in the month of January, 1842, and since then all
ships sailing to or from Dublin to the southward, all Irish
coasting vessels, and all vessels in ballast are freed from this
charge. 1 This contest began in the year 1836, and continued
for six years, conducted principally by Mr. Haliday,
until success finally crowned the efforts of the Chamber of
Commerce,
So highly were Mr. Haliday's services appreciated by Recognition
the Steamboat Companies that they presented him with a l.bout
*
veiy costly and handsome piece of plate, with the following *j^ ne8 Light
inscription :
" Presented by the Directors of the City of Dublin, the Britioh
and Irish, and the Glasgow Steam Packet Companies, to Charles
Haliday, esq., Honorary Secretary to Chamber of Commerce, in
testimony of his eminent services and of the untiring zeal and
ability successfully exerted by him in effecting the abolition of the
unjust impost for many years levied under the name of the
"
Skerries Light Dues," operating injuiiously and vexatiously on
the coasting trade of Ireland, but most particularly on that of this
Port.
"Dublin, 17th March, 1842."
Encouraged by their success in the case of the Skerries
Lighthouse tolls, the Chamber of Commerce, in the year
1845, determined to resist the dues exacted by the Com-
missioners of the Ramsgate Harbour of Refuge on vessels
merely passing that harbour on their voyages to any port
in Ireland. This charge (which was two pence per ton)
was enforced at the Custom Houses in Ireland, and clear-
ances were refused to ships until the amount was paid.
1 These particulars have been ob- the Chamber of Commerce, drawn
tallied from the yearly Reports of up by Mr. Holiday.
It