§ MR. ROCHE (Galway, E.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a few months ago negotiations were in progress between the tenants on the Butson Estate, county Galway, and the nominal owner for the purchase of untenanted land on the estate; that the Land Judge was selling to Mrs. Butson 800 acres for £12,000; 472 that Mrs. Butson offered to sell to the tenants, for the purpose of enlarging their uneconomic holdings, 300 acres for over £6,000; that the negotiations have fallen through because the tenants refused to purchase at the price demanded; and that these tenants are now being proceeded against for the hanging gale; and, if so, can he state at what date the hanging gale was incurred.
§ MR. WALTER LONGI am informed that the sale to Mrs. Butson of 800 acres of land had been completed before any question arose as to the resale by her of 300 acres, part thereof, to the tenants. The Land Judge had no power to compel Mrs. Butson to resell the land, nor could he exercise any control as to the price demanded. The negotiations with the tenants having fallen through, the receiver has been instructed, in the usual course, to take proceedings for the recovery of the arrears of rent actually due.
§ MR. KILBRIDEWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last line of the Question? Is it forty years ago?
§ [No Answer was returned.]