§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the farm of James Byrne, an evicted tenant of the Littledale estate, in the county Wicklow, is now in the occupation of a man named Ellison; whether the Land Commission are considering an offer by Ellison to purchase the holding; and whether the Land Commission have decided to advance money to Ellison, whilst the evicted tenant Byrne has offered, and is prepared to buy the farm at a reasonable price?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe Commissioners have no information as to who is in occupation at the present moment of the holding from which James Byrne was evicted. An application was received from Byrne under the 47th Section of the Land Act of 1896, but, as the landlord objected to the proceedings in the prescribed manner, Byrne's application fell through, as of course. No agreement for the purchase of the holding by Ellison has been received by the Commissioners.