§ MR. DONAL SULLIVAN) (Westmeath, S.I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware-that, on last Thursday, the 26th of June, in the salerooms of P. M'Cormick, auctioneer, of Mullingar, a number of farms, consisting of parts of the lands of Cloncullion, Rahinashiane, Spittaltown and Killevally, situate in the barony of Moycashel, and County Westmeath, held in fee, containing 334 acres? rood and 37 perches, statute measure, or thereabouts, were put up for sale by instructions of the Irish Land Commission; that there was no bidding for the farms; whether by conveyance dated the 17th day of July, 1886, the above lands were conveyed in fee simple, in consideration of £3,840, £2,800 of which was advanced by the Irish Land Commission, and by said deed the said lands were conveyed to the said Irish Land Commission, subject to redemption, and a covenant was entered into to pay the Commission an annuity of £112 for 49 years, from the 1st day of November, 1886, payable half-yearly on every 1st day of May and every 1st day of November; what inquiry did the Land Commission make as-to the value of those farms before they advanced such a large sum; and whether 665 they have any expectation of realising any part of the sum so advanced?
§ *MR. MADDENThe Land Commissioners report that the holding referred to was sold in July, 1886, for £3,840, of which the purchaser paid in cash £1,040, and the Commission advanced £2,800. The holding was advertised for sale to realise one year's annuity, £112 due to the Commission, but the sale was not proceeded with, as the Commissioners ascertained that the purchaser had been recently adjudicated a bankrupt, and the assignee was taking the necessary steps to pay out of the assets the arrears of annuity due, and to realise for the benefit of the creditors the bankrupt's interest in the holding. Before making the advance in 1886, the Commissioners caused the holding to be inspected, and they have no doubt whatever as to the sufficiency of their security.
§ MR. TUITE) (Westmeath, N.I beg to ask the Attorney General for Ireland whether he is aware that at the last sitting of the Irish Land Sub-Commission in Mullingar the Commissioners announced that the next sitting of the Court would be held on the 24th June, and that in consequence of that statement a large number of tenants came to the town on that day under the impression that their cases would be heard, but were obliged to return as the Commissioners did not attend; and whether he will take steps to prevent the tenants in future being put to such unnecessary loss and inconvenience, and that proper notice shall be given by the Commissioners when they decide on postponing the sitting of the Court?
§ *MR. MADDENThe Land Commissioners report that there must have been some misapprehension on the part of the tenants referred to, as no fixtures had been made for the 24th June.