§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. John Henry Ryan, C.E., Dublin, was appointed by the Commissioners of Public Works as arbitrator under the Dublin, Wicklow, and Wexford Shillelagh Extension Act; that, under the Act passed in 1897, the time for acquiring land compulsorily was limited to a period of five years; and 253 that repeated sittings have been held with expense to the parties; and whether he will state what is the cause of the delay in the publication of the final award.
§ MR. WYNDHAMMr. Ryan was appointed arbitrator in July, 1900. The railway company did not intimate to him their desire to proceed with his inquiries until November. 1902. A draft sectional award was lodged by the arbitrator in June, 1903, and the final award was lodged yesterday. The delay has been caused by the necessity of recasting claims; by repeated adjournments to meet the convenience of the parties, and by the complicated nature of the case.