MR. P. O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a tenant named James Convery of Longfield, South Derry, signed an agreement to purchase his holding under the Ashbourne Act from the Drapers' Company (London), in November, 1887; that the Company undertook through their solicitor to complete the sale free of charge to Mr. Convery; and that the Land Commission advanced the purchase money, but sent the conveyancing order or deed to another solicitor who refuses to deliver the same to Mr. Convery except on payment of fees; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into this matter, and state the result?
§ MR. JACKSONThe Land Commissioners report that in the case in question the vendor agreed to pay the cost of the vesting order, and this agreement was carried out. The tenant had employed a solicitor, and the copy of the vesting order was sent to his solicitor, who was entitled under an existing general rule to claim a fee of 10s. 6d. from the tenant purchaser.
§ MR. JACKSONNo; that is not the information that comes to me. The information that comes to me is that the conveyancing order was sent to the solicitor who was employed by the tenant to examine the order on his 518 account, and that the conveyancing order was sent to the solicitor on condition that it was made a charge at the fee mentioned—namely, 10s. 6d.
MR. P. O'BRIENI put the; names of both solicitors in the question, but they were struck out at the Table, Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will say whether there were two solicitors engaged in the case?
§ MR. JACKSONIf the hon. Member will send me the names of the two solicitors, and will put the question again, I will endeavour to answer him.
§ MR. JACKSONI cannot be responsible for what is handed in at the Table.