§ MR. MACVEAGHI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the judgment of the Estates Commissioners to the effect that, before sanctioning the sale of the Shaftesbury estate, near Belfast, the Treasury should be afforded an opportunity of appearing by counsel before, them; whether he is aware that the total purchase money agreed by the tenants to be paid would, if invested at 3 per cent., yield 91 per cent. of the gross rental, or more than the net rental, at 3¾ per cent. would yield 109 per cent. of the gross rental, and at 4 per cent. no less than 116 per cent. of the gross rental, or 36 per cent. more than the present net income from the property, besides improving the security; whether the Treasury will represent to the Commissioners that in these figures the landlord has sufficient inducement to sell without also paying to him a bonus at the cost of the Irish taxpayers; and whether the Treasury will advise the Commissioners not to declare the property an estate, but to leave it to be dealt with under one of the previous Purchase Acts and thus save the bonus.
§ MR. McKENNAI have seen an account of this case in the newspapers, but no official Report has reached me on the subject. I am, however, making, inquiries.