§ MR. GINNELL (Westmeath, N.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the 965 Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what causes the delay in completing the sales of the Ridley, the Murphy, and the Wilson Hospital estates, in the parish of Fore, Westmeath, agreements having been signed in 1904; will the Commissioners, before sanctioning these sales, ascertain the value of the tenants' occupation interest and improvements, in order to deduct this tenants' property from the gross amount, and advance only the value of what the respective owners are legally and equitably entitled to sell; how soon will the estates be inspected for this purpose; and how soon may the tenants expect the sales to be completed.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. BRYCE,) Aberdeen, S.The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estates mentioned in the Question have not yet been reached. The agreements for purchase in the estate of E. Ridley were lodged on March 10th, 1905; in the estate of Wilson Hospital on July 5th, 1905; and in the estate of L. P. Murphy on April 6th, 1906. These estates will be dealt with in their order of priority and as soon as possible, but the Commissioners cannot state with any accuracy when the estates will be inspected or the sales completed. The Instructions to Inspectors which have been laid on the Table and Form E. therein contained show what the practice of the Commissioners is in estimating price and security.