§ MR. J. P. FARRELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland to state the cause of the delay in the sale of the O'Brien estate at Cornakelly and Corglass, in North Longford; whether he is aware that the negotiations for the sale of this estate have extended over seven years; whether the offer of the Estates Commissioners to the Land Judge for this estate has yet been made or accepted; and, if not, can he hold out any hope that the sale will go through and state when the Estates Commissioners will give the tenants their vesting orders.
§ (Answered by Mr. Bryce.) I have no information as to the length of time during which this estate may have been for sale in the Land Judge's Court. So far as the Estates Commissioners are concerned, they inform me that they have had the estate inspected with a view to purchase, and their inspector's report was received in May last. The Commissioners found it necessary to raise certain queries on the report, and this has somewhat delayed the matter. The Commissioners, however, hope to be in a position shortly to make an offer to the Land Judge for the purchase of the estate.