§ MR. PATRICK M'HUGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a sitting of the Land Commission had been fixed for the 4th December last at Manorhamilton, County Leitrim, but that on the 3rd December Mr. H. P. Ringwood wired from Morrison's Hotel, Dublin, to Michael M'Goldrick, of Ghurteen, Drumnacross, and six other farmers informing them that the sitting bad been indefinitely postponed; by whose authority was the sitting indefinitely postponed; will he see that those farmers who had arranged for the hearing of their cases on the day fixed will be compensated for the loss they have sustained by the postponement; and have the cases of Michael M'Goldrick and the others been heard yet; and, if not, when will they be heard?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURThe sitting referred to in the Question was arranged for the 4th ult. as stated. Instructions were issued by the Irish Land Commission to the Sub-Commissioners not to hear more cases than would occupy them and could be disposed of up to Christmas, as, owing to the appointment of a number of new Assistant Commissioners, the constitution, of the different Sub-Commissions to take up work after Christmas bad to be recast. In consequence of this direction Mr. Ringwood had to notify the postponement of the cases referred to. A necessary adjournment such as took place in this case does not appear to afford a reason for compensation. The cases have not yet been heard, but will be probably heard early in March.