§ MR. HAVILAND BURKE (King's County, Tullamore)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the agent for the Somers Estate at Bally-cowan, near Tullamore, who is also agent for the adjacent Bury Estate, has refused the proposal of the Somers Estate tenants to sell direct to the Estates Commissioners, and has threatened them, failing their compliance with his own proposals, to sell a portion of the Somers Estate to another person for whom he is also agent; and, if so, will he say what action he will take in the matter.
§ MR. WALTER LONGNo originating application in respect of this estate has been received by the Estates Commissioners, who have no information as to the allegations contained in the Question. No action on my part is called for.
§ MR. HAVILAND BURKEI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that a planter named Owen, who, for the past sixteen years, has occupied two evicted farms on the Somers Estate at Ballycowan, near Tullamore, under special police protection alleged to be necessary and costing the King's County at least £3,000, has been allowed to purchase these farms under the Land 802 Purchase Act of 1903, although the tenants on the estate made it a condition of negotiation for purchase that the evicted tenants of the farms held by Owen should be restored; and, if so, will he state what steps he proposes to take.
§ MR. WALTER LONGProceedings for the sale of the King's County portion of this estate have not yet been initiated before the Estates Commissioners. The cost of Mr. Owen's protection, of the amount of which I have no information, has been defrayed from moneys voted by Parliament, and has entailed no charge on the ratepayers.