§ MR. JAMES DALY (Monaghan, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that in October last a number of tenants on the estate of R. C. Leslie, Ballybay, county Monaghan, made application to the Irish Land Commissioners to have fair rents fixed on their holdings; whether he can state the cause of the delay in having fair rents fixed, and whether the Snb-Commissioners who will try these cases will sit in Ballybay to suit the convenience of all concerned; 52 whether he is aware that flax is largely grown in this district, and that this crop has been almost a total failure for some years past; and whether he will send sub-Commissioners to try these cases who know about flax growing?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURSome of the cases from the estate referred to were heard at Ballybay on the 12th and 13th ult. The Assistant Commissioners were Mr. Edge, Q.C., and Messrs Patterson and Mowbray. The decisions have not yet been communicated to the Land Commission. The remaining cases, 15 in number, will be listed in due course, and will be heard at such place, and by such Assistant Commissioners, as the Land Commission in the exercise of their discretion, and having regard to the circumstances, think proper. I must repeat that I have no control over the arrangements made or proposed by the Land Commission.