§ MR. FLAVINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a large number of tenants on the estate of F. B. Chute, situate near Castle island, signed: agreements to purchase their holdings in October, 1897, and that the Irish Land Commission in November, 1898, sanctioned the agreements and purchase money; and if so, why is such a length of time allowed to elapse before the completion of the sale to the tenants.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. G. W. BALFOUR)In thirty cases upon the estate of Mr. F. B. Chute in the County Kerry agreements under the Land Purchase Acts were lodged in the Land Commission in the month of December, 1897. The applications for advances in all those cases were sanctioned during the months of April and November, 1898. The vendor's title was lodged by his solicitor's.
97 on the, 4th February, 1899, and the rulings thereon were issued from the office of the Land Commission on the 15th May following. I am informed by the solicitors having carriage of the sale that unexpected difficulties have arisen in apportioning the head-rent, but that after very considerable labour on their part these difficulties have now been practically overcome, and it is expected that the sales will shortly be completed.