MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, (1) whether he can state the circumstances under which James Henry, J.P., Draperstown, got possession in 1890 of the farm of John. M'Kenna, an evicted tenant of the Drapers' Company, London; (2) when did James Henry become purchaser of the farm under the Land Commission; what title did he show to satisfy the Land Commissioners that he was a bonâ fide, tenant before they sanctioned the purchase, or was any opportunity given the evicted tenant to become purchaser; (3) has it come to the knowledge of the Land Commission, and was it with their consent, that James Henry has since sold this farm for £350 to Patrick Trollan, of Cahore, Draperstown; (4) has any difficulty arisen about the transfer of the title deeds from James Henry to Patrick Trollan; and, (5) if so, what is the difficulty; and, what action will the Land Commission take in the matter?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Land Commission inform me that Mr. Henry entered into an agreement in January, 1891, to purchase his holding, of which he was in possession as a yearly tenant under the Drapers' Company, for £140. The Commissioners were informed that Mr. Henry had acquired the interest of the previous tenant, John McKenna, under a decree which he obtained as a mortgagee in 1889. The holding was duly vested in Mr. Henry, and his vesting order has been registered under the Registration of Title Act. A purchaser under the Purchase Acts can sell his 1226 holding without the consent of the Land Commission. The Commissioners have no information as to any sale, as alleged in the third paragraph, and they see no grounds for taking any action in the case of the sale of the holding to Mr. Henry which appears to have been a bonâ fide sale to a tenant in occupation under a contract of tenancy.