§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTON (Kerry, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true that Jeremiah Breen, of Beaufort, Killarney, appealed in a land case from the decision of the Sub-Commissioners sitting at Killarney in March, 1884; that three years elapsed before his case was listed for hearing by the Head Commission sitting in Killarney in March, 1887; that the sitting of the Head Commission was then adjourned till August, and that meantime Breen's case was removed from the list; when it is probable his appeal will be heard, as it has now been pending four years; and, what was the old rent, and what is the "fair rent" fixed in March, 1884, by the Sub-Commissioners?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said, the Land Commissioners had informed him that the facts were precisely as stated in the Question. The delay, however, was due to the fact that the tenant had not thought it necessary to apply for a re-hearing in time under the 1644 Rules of December, 1883. The application would, in due course, appear in the list for hearing at the next sitting of the Killarney Sub-Commission, the date of whose sitting had not, however, been fixed. The old rent was £25 10s. and the judicial rent £21 10s.
§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTONWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether it is the fact that during those four years the tenant has had to pay the old rent; and, also, how he can explain that it is the fault of the tenant for not having had his application listed, when, as a matter of fact, the tenant's case was listed in March, 1887, when the Head Land Commission then adjourned as a mark of respect to the memory of the late Mr. Vernon, and that the name of the case then disappeared from the list?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANI cannot answer the first part of the Question as to what rent the tenant has had to pay. The sitting of the Court of Appeal in March, 1887, could not beheld, as Mr. J. E. Vernon died in that month, and the Commission was incapable of discharging any judicial functions until his successor was appointed. I have no information about the last part of the Question, and I should rather be inclined to think that the statement is inacourate.
§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTONThat allegation is the whole point of the Question—that his name was on the list of appeals for hearing before the Head Commission in Killarney, in March, 1887. That was three years after his case had first been heard. That then, when it came on to be heard in March, the adjournment took place in consequence of the death of Mr. Vernon, and that then the tenant's name disappeared from the list which was published in November. I wish to know if there is any explanation of that?
§ COLONEL KING-HARMANIf the hon. Member will renew that portion of his Question I will inquire about it.
§ MR. EDWARD HARRINGTONI shall do so.