MR. BRYNEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is true that a large number of leaseholders in the Rathdrum Union, 515 county Wicklow, served originating notices to have fair rents fixed prior to the 29th September, 1887; whether these cases are yet unheard; whether decrees for the old rents are got against the tenants one month after each gale becomes due; whether the coming gale, due 25th March instant, will be two years' rent since some of the notices were duly served; whether he will urge the Land Commission to hold sittings more frequently, and avoid the grievous losses, delays, and inconvenience to which tenants are subjected; and, if he can say when the next Court will sit in that Union?
§ *MR. A. J. BALFOURThe Land Commissioners inform me that there are now 136 cases remaining unheard in the Union of Rathdrum in respect of which originating notices were received prior to the 29th of September, 1887. At the last sitting in that union 134 cases were disposed of. Assuming that in some of the first-mentioned cases no rent had been paid since the originating notices were served, two years' rent will apparently have since accrued at the 25th inst. I have no information as to whether proceedings have been taken for the old rent in the cases in question, but it is to be remembered that the judicial rent when fixed will be retrospective, and an account had between the parties in cases where the actual payments made for rent since accruing shall exceed, or are less than, such judicial rents, and it is further competent for the tenant to apply to the County Court Judge for a stay of execution and for an Order from him should he see fit that the arrears shall be spread over a given period for payment by instalments. It is probable there will be another sitting for this union in May or June next.