§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to certain proceedings in reference to the Bagot estate, which took place in the Dublin Courts on 26th April; whether he has received copies of resolutions passed recently at a public meeting held in Ballymoe, county Galway, on the subsequent Sunday; whether the Congested Districts Board have been negotiating for the purchase of the said estate, and whether subsequently Sir Nicholas R. O'Conor, British Ambassador at Constantinople, intervened as a possible purchaser; whether any representations on the subject have been or will be made to Sir N. R. O'Conor, with the view of giving to the people the advantage arising from purchase by the Congested Districts Board; and whether that Board will continue its negotiations to secure the estate.
§ *THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. G. W. BALFOUR,) Leeds, CentralI am aware of the proceedings taken by the Congested Districts Board in the Land Judge's Court respecting this estate. The Board instructed their solicitor to negotiate for the purchase of portion of the estate, and he appeared before the Land Judge in reference to the matter, but the Land Judge decided to accept the offer of Sir Nicholas O'Conor. The replies to the fourth and fifth paragraphs are in the negative.