MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Belfast City and District Water Commissioners served notices in December, 1896, upon tenants and occupiers of land in the parishes of Oldpark and Ballyaghan, county Antrim, to compulsorily take their holdings under an Act of 1897; whether the Commissioners intend to take the lands in Oldpark and Ballyaghan; and, if so, when; whether he is aware that great hardship is suffered by some of the small occupiers in not being able to utilise their holdings owing to the delay in appointing the Government valuator; and whether he can say when the valuator will be appointed?
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI am informed by the Secretary of the Commissioners, to whom this question was referred, that the plans of the lands to be acquired have been prepared, and are at present in the hands of a valuator, and that on receipt of his report application will be made to the Board of Works to appoint an arbitrator to assess the compensation to be paid.