§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what explanation can be given of the fact that, notwithstanding the possession by the Congested Districts Board for upwards of three years of two grass farms on the C. I. Tredennick Estate, St. John's Point, county Donegal, no steps have been taken to divide these farms into suitable plots for the fishermen who now hold no land, and to build houses on them for these fishermen, who arc ready to pay a reasonable price for such houses, but that, on the contrary, grazing cattle are taken on these grass ranches; whether he is aware that, at a specially convened branch of the Killaghtee branch of the United Irish League held on the 17th instant, a resolution was unanimously carried and directed to be forwarded to the Congested Districts Board, protesting against the continued inaction of that Board in not applotting the Tredennick grass farms among the fishermen of St. John's Point, and the posting up of notices that grazing cattle will be taken on these lands on the 21st instant; what reply has been sent by the Congested Districts Board to that communication; and, having regard to the delay in applotting these farms and the discontent produced by that delay, what course does the Congested Districts Board propose to adopt.
§ MR. ATKINSON (for Mr. WYNDHAM)The works originally contemplated by the Congested Districts Board were postponed in consequence of the difficulty of obtaining labour at the usual rates. The Board will shortly be in a position, however, to undertake the works, but in the meantime they have decided that the lands must be grazed. A reply to this effect has been sent to the communication referred to in the Question.
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILLIs the right hon. Gentlemen aware that the public in the locality have decided that the lands shall not be grazed?
§ [The answer was inaudible.]