GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM, GAS, WATER SUPPLY, FIRE BRIGADE, MARKETS AND FAIRS.

A CHARTER was granted by James I. for the government of Armagh, in 1613, the Corporation to consist of a sovereign, twelve free burgesses, an unlimited number of freemen, a town clerk and registrar, and two sergeants-at-mace.
The sovereign was to be chosen from among the burgesses on the 24th of June each year. Two members were to be returned to the Irish Parliament by the sovereign and burgesses. The sovereign and remaining free burgesses filled vacancies in their number, and admitted freemen. James II. set aside the charter of his predecessor, and substituted one conferring larger powers, but the original was restored by William III., and parliamentary representatives were chosen under it until the Union -1801. The borough was represented in the Imperial Parliament by one member until the Act of 1885, when it was disfranchised, not having the requisite population. Capt. George De La Poer Beresford, D.L., Castle Dillon, was the last representative.
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The governmental system was reconstructed in 1833, under the 9th of George IV., chapter 82, and Town Commissionesr [sic - Commissioner ] elected having powers in regard to lighting, watching, cleansing, etc. These are still exercised. In 1878 the provisions of the Public Health Act were taken advantage of, and there are now three committees of the general body of commissioners, one for "finance and pipe water," one for general purposes, "watching, lighting and cleansing," and one for " urban sanitary."
Primate Robinson, as a public benefactor, devoted attention to improvements under ground as well as over ground, and in his time a good beginning was made in the matter of sewerage. Since the Public Health Act came into operation the work which he initiated has been continued at the expense of property owners in several districts. From 1881 over £900 has been disbursed for this purpose. The total valuation of property subject to rates in 1887 was £27,981. This does not include churches nor public buildings, some of which-the observatory and library-are exempt by Act of Parliament. The rate struck for the next municipal year, 1888-9, is graded as follows :- 2s. in the £ on all houses and tenements valued at £20 and upward, 1s. 6d. in the £ on houses, etc., valued at ,£10 and under £20, and 1s. in the £ on houses, etc., valued at £5 and under £10. Half the total rate of 4s 6d in the £ is to be used for town expenses, and half for sanitary and expenses of construction and maintenance of water works. The cost of lighting and maintaining 247 gas lamps for the year ending 31st December, 1887, was £198 16s. The gas works are owned by a limited liability company, and charge the Town Commissioners 3s. 9d. per 1000 feet, which is under the rate to private consumers. It cost £83 4s to watch the city for the year. This amount pays three watchmen. Two receive 10s. per week each, and one, the sergeant, 12s. per week. The cleansing cost £121 18s. 3d.
The history of the water supply began in 1792. Lady Primrose left £1000 in charge of two trustees, to be applied to "any useful purpose," in their discretion. Lady Primrose was daughter of Charles Drelincourt, D.D., a native of France, who was appointed Dean and Rector of Armagh in 1691. It was considered a "useful purpose" to help to give the city an abundance of pure water. Lowry 's Lake was purchased. It is situated at a distance of about two miles from the city, on the way to Tandragee. There was a good spring, and it was impounded by building a bank all around. Between the years 1825 and 1868 over £2,000 was spent in improvements to the piping, etc. The first pipes were wooden, with iron connections. These were replaced by pipes of cast metal, the largest 13 inches, and the smallest 3 inches in diameter. The money was raised by debentures under the Water Acts of 1789 and 1794.

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In 1878 an additional sum of £1,000 was expended in the purchase and embanking of six acres adjoining the lake. A loan received from the Board of Works was used to pay off the debenture holders and in the purchase and embankment of the six acres, etc. The lake and shore now consist of about 20 acres. In 1884 five and a half acres were added, and a house built for the caretaker. There are two filtering beds, a quarter of a mile from the lake, and a clear water basin with which the mains are connected. According to Sir Charles Cameron 's analysis the water has no peculiar odor, or flavor, and is soft and well adapted for washing or cooking purposes-in fact is as good as the Vartry, Dublin. A supply is maintained at 24 public fountains conveniently distributed throughout the city. In July of the present year the depth in the lake was 8 feet 8 inches. A Volunteer Fire Brigade is maintained under the supervision of the Town Commissioners at a cost of £16 a year, of which £10 comes from the Town Commissioners and £6 from the Toll Committee. With three exceptions, all the members of the brigade are volunteers. One of the three is paid £8 a year and the other two £4 each. The pressure from the water plugs is sufficient to send a stream to the top of the highest house in the city. A manual engine is kept for country work, within a radius of ten miles.
At the petition of Hugh Roe O 'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, Queen Elizabeth in 1587, granted a patent for a market to be held in Armagh every Tuesday. This was confirmed to the Primate by James I. and Charles II. The great market continues to be held on Tuesday down to the present, for all kinds of produce, with the exception of grain and grass-seed. These are sold in the season on Wednesday and Saturday. Every Tuesday throughout the year the principal thoroughfares are crowded in every part by country people. There is a splendid limestone Market House in Market Square, built by the Hon. William Stuart, D,D., in 1811, eleven years after he became Primate. The market places are, for flax, in Irish-street ; poultry and eggs, Dobbin-street; butter, Dobbin-street ; grain, grass-seed, pork, hay and straw, the Shambles, Mill-street; live pigs, Gaol Square. There are two weigh-bridges at the Shambles, and one in Gaol Square.
The Primate for the time being leased the market rights. In 1821 David Beatty was lessee, and sold his interest to a few of the leading inhabitants for £1,700. This amount was raised by the issue of debentures of £25 each. The debenture holders elected a Committee of eight to manage the market, and it was understood that the surplus received from tolls, after paying interest on the debentures at the rate of 6 per cent., was to be used in the improvement of the city and its market places.

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By a sinking fund the debentures were reduced from £25 to £15. In 1829 the Primate, Lord John George Beresford, renewed the lease to the Toll Committee. In 1874 the title of the Primate to the head rent was acquired from the Church Temporalities Commissioners at a cost of £1000, raised by the issue of 50 debentures. It is claimed by the Toll Trustees that they have expended in improvements about the City fully £11,000 since 1821. Under the Royal Commission for inquiring into the management of Markets in Ireland, Mr. C. W. Black, Assistant Commissioner, sat at Armagh in June of this year. Evidence was given on behalf of the Toll Trustees to show that nothing had been left undone to sustain the reputation of and improve the markets. Evidence was also offered to support the opinion that the Trustees had not used their powers to the advantage of the markets, that the surplus received in Tolls, over expenditure, had not been employed for the improvement of the City, and that the management of the markets should be given to the Town Commissioners. Here are a few of the principal tolls levied : bag of meal, oats, or potatoes, 1d. ; cart of potatoes, 2d.; hamper, bag, or package of apples or other fruit, 1d.; cart of apples, 4d.; cart of turnips or carrots, 2d.; bag of grass-seed, 1d.; barrel or box of fish, 1d. ; cart of fish, 2d. ; nurseryman 's cart with flowers, or plants, 6d.; cart with plants, young trees or brooms, 2d.; crock, firkin, or butt of butter, including weighing, 2d.; lump of butter under 10 lb., id. ; under 20 lb., 1d. ; 20 lbs. or upward, 2d.; box or package of eggs, 1d.; cart of fowl, 2d.; hand-basket of eggs or fowl, free ; cart of young pigs, 2d.; shambles market, carcase of beef or veal, 4d.; pork, per pig, weighed or unweighed, 4d.; hay or straw, if weighed, 2d. per load ; grain, if weighed, per sack or bag, 1d.
Fairs are held on the first Thursday of every month, for horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs, and are usually well attended by buyers and sellers.