§ MR. M'GOVERNI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the estate of David Finlay and others, situate in the county of Cavan, has been in the Court of Chancery during the past ten years for the purpose of sale, and that the solicitors and receiver of the estate, with the sanction of the Court of Chancery, got the tenants on the estate to sign agreements to purchase their holdings through the Land Commission over three years ago; can he state what has been done with these agreements; and will the Court of Chancery direct the receiver to refund to the tenants the money that has been collected from them for rent instead of interest since the agreements were signed.
§ MR. WYNDHAMThe sale of this estate is not taking place under the 40th section of the Act of 1896. An order for the sale of the estate was made in 1890, and about three years ago the tenants signed provisional agreements to purchase. I am informed it is no part of the agreements that the tenants should be free from rent pending the carrying out of the sale; in any case, 1452 such an arrangement would be nugatory, as it has not received the sanction of the Land Judge.
§ MR. M'GOVERNWhy have the provisions of the 35th section of the Act of 1896 been set aside?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThis case does not come under the Act of 1896. The estate was sold before that Act was passed.