§ MR. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that the tenants on Lord Kilmaine's estate near Rochfort Bridge, county Westmeath, signed agreements to purchase their holdings, under the Land Act of 1903, about two years ago;will he say if the sale has been completed yet; if the tenants are still paying interest to the landlord; whether a valuer from the Irish Estates Commissioners has been inspecting the property on their behalf within the last week; whether he is aware that the poorer tenants on this property sent two memorials to the Commissioners asking for a distribution of a portion of the large 343 grass lands amongst them, without any effective result; and whether, seeing that there are many small holdings on this estate, and some grass ranches let to graziers on the eleven months system, he will urge on the Commissioners the necessity of promptly dealing with this property.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.)The Estates Commissioners inform me that the purchase agreements in respect of the estate in question were lodged with them in February, 1905. The advances have not yet been made, and the tenants are still paying interest on the purchase money. The documents in the case, including the memorials mentioned in the Question, have been referred to an inspector for inquiry and report. The inspector's Report has not yet been received, but upon its reception the Commissioners will deal with the estate and will give duo consideration to the memorials.