§ DR. KENNY (Cork, S.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether he is aware that Jeremiah Connolly, of the townland of Derrylugga, Barony of East Division of West Carberry, County Cork, a tenant of Thomas E. Whitney, Blackrock, County Cork, served an originating notice to have a fair rent fixed on the 11th November, 1881; whether his rent was £17, and valuation £12 5s.; whether his case was not adjudicated on till June, 1883, when the old rent of £17 was confirmed without reduction by the Sub-Commission presided over by Messrs. M'Devitt and Walpole; whether Connolly appealed from this decision on 15th July, 1883, and whether said appeal is still unheard; whether, if the facts are as above stated, he will explain the delay that has occurred in the hearing of this poor man's appeal, whereby he is still condemned to pay what may be ultimately decided to be an unjust and exorbitant rent; and, whether he can hold out any hope that the Chief Commission will soon hold a sitting in Cork to hear appeals so long pending?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said, the facts of the case were substantially as stated in the Question. The delay, which was a serious matter, had arisen through inadvertence on the part of the Land Commission. The Commissioners reported that a sitting would be held in West Cork in October or November next, when the case would be tried.
§ DR. KENNYasked, whether, considering the fact that this man's case had been so long delayed, he would not get the benefit of any reduction which might 505 be made in the rent from the time he served his notice?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANsaid, he had rather anticipated this Question; and he was prepared to say that, considering the gross negligence which had been shown on the part of some of the officials of the Land Commission, the circumstances mentioned would be taken into consideration.