§ MR. JUSTIN M'CARTHY (for Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he has received information in reference to the estate of Mrs. Blake, at Renvyle, to the effect that her tenants, John Heany and Patrick Heany, are under sentence of eviction for one year's rent, these tenants being clothed in rags, having all the appearance of starvation, and dwelling in wretched cabins; whether it is a fact that the majority of the tenants on the estate have as their only food Indian meal, and, in some cases, a little milk; and, whether he still ad- 1738 heres to the statement that the tenants have potatoes for sale?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR IRELAND (Mr. LAW)My right hon. Friend (Mr. W. E. Forster) has again caused special inquiry to be made into the condition of the tenantry on the Renvyle estate. This inquiry was made by an Inspector of the Local Government Board, who proceeded to the spot, and the result is this—With regard to the two Heanys, only one of them, John Heany, is recognized as a tenant; the other, Patick Heany, is a sub-tenant, which is contrary to the rules of the estate. On the 1st of May last John Heany owed a year and a-half's rent, and I understand that proceedings are pending against him. With regard to the allegation that these men are clothed in rags, having all the appearance of starvation, and dwelling in wretched cabins, we are informed that John Heany's house is regarded as one of the best in the village of Coshleen. Attached to the house is a barn, in which Patrick Heany lives. They have each a horse, cow, calf, and poultry. Patrick Heany is described as a strong, handsome man. They were both found to be comfortably clothed and booted, and had not the slightest appearance of starvation. Within the last three weeks John Heany is stated to have received £15 net, and Patrick Heany £7, for kelp. With regard to the allegation that the majority of the tenants on the estate have as their only food Indian meal, and in some cases a little milk, we are informed that they have eggs, milk, poultry, fish occasionally, and in some cases new potatoes, and, in fact, that they are very much better circumstanced now than they were last year. Speaking generally, the Inspector reports that the Coshleen men are "splendid fellows," and physically compare favourably with the tenantry on any other estate in his district. With regard to the Question whether my right hon. Friend still adheres to the statement that they still have potatoes for sale, the hon. Member will find that what the Chief Secretary for Ireland stated was—
Two-thirds of these people up to last month had potatoes for sale, while the other third had them at present.That was on the 20th of June, and the Chief Secretary certainly does adhere to that statement. It has not been alleged 1739 that they have potatoes to sell at the present moment; but from a Return which has been obtained of potatoes sold in the Renvyle market since December last, it appeared that 12 tons were disposed of there, and of that amount 10 tons were sold by tenants on the Renvyle estate.