§ MR. P. FFRENCH (Wexford, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on the Conlan estate, county Wexford, were in treaty, in Mr. Justice Monroe's Court, to purchase their holdings under the Land 878 Purchase (Ireland) Act; that the Norwich Assurance Company has been permitted to step in and purchase the property at a less price than the tenants were willing to pay; and that this company has threatened to issue ejectments and writs against the tenants; whether he is aware that the tenants have offered the Company 17 years' purchase of the present rental; and, whether, in the interests of the peace of the locality, and to prevent charges on the ratepayers for extra police, he will be prepared to recommend that the tenants' offer be accepted?
MR. J. MORLEYI am informed by the Registrar of the Land Judge's Court that negotiations had taken place with a view to the sale to the tenants of their holdings on the estate, but that in July, 1894, an offer of the Company referred to to purchase for £11,000 was accepted by the Land Judge. The Registrar states that on official record is kept of offers in such cases which have not been accepted, and that no information can, therefore, be given as to the price tendered by the tenants on the Conlan estate. He observes, however, as to the relative amount of the offers made by the tenants and the Norwich Union Company, that regard must be had to the fact that the offer of the tenants, if accepted at all, would only have been accepted subject to deduction of the sums necessary to redeem quit rent and tithe rent charge, and that the offer of the Norwich Company was made for the estate as it stood subject to these outgoings.