§ MR. DELANYOn behalf of the hon. Member for East Limerick, I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to negotiations for sale and purchase as between the present owners of the Lloyd Apjohn Estate around Pallas Grean, county Limerick, and the tenants; is he aware that papers containing prices and particulars of purchase were filled up some time ago and signed by the tenants, and that subsequently some of the tenants were required to sign second papers at higher figures of purchase; and will he say at what time and by whose orders, and on what grounds these two sets of papers were signed; and how matters in regard to the purchase stand at present.
§ MR. WALTER LONGThis matter is in the Land Judge's Court. It is not the case that any tenant has been required to sign a document increasing his purchase money. The tenants in the first place made certain offers, which, however, they subsequently reduced when they found that they were liable for a drainage maintenance charge. The Land Judge declined to accept the reduced offers, but suggested certain changes, to which all parties ultimately agreed. The sale is now practically concluded.