§ MR. HALPIN (Clare, W.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland for information in reference to the sale of the Hickman estate at Rehy, near Carrigaholt, in West Clare, on 102 16th August, 1905, when Mr. Charles McDonnell, the agent of Major Hickman, gave a promise in writing that Major Hickman would offer the farm at Rehy, which is in his own, Major Hickman's, hands for purchase to the Estates Commissioners in order to have it divided among the poor tenants on the estate; whether he is aware that on those conditions the tenants agreed to the terms of purchase, the game rights included, and will ho say whether Major Hickman or his agent has done anything to carry out his promise to the tenants during the past six months; whether it was with Major Hickman's knowledge and consent that the prosecution was brought against Pat Cahill, who is one of his tenants; and whether, seeing that Mr. Burton of Carrigaholt had no right to prosecute Cahill for shooting on the lands, he will make further inquiries into this case.
MR. BRYCEThe originating application in respect of this estate includes 305 acres of land in the vendor's occupation at Rehy East, which he proposes to sell to the Land Commission for distribution among the tenants of small holdings who are purchasing the remainder of the estate. The Estates Commissioners have no information whether this land includes the farm for killing rabbits upon which Cahill was convicted. The originating application states that the sporting rights to which the vendor is entitled shall be vested in the tenants subject to any rights reserved by deed to the representatives of Mr. H. I. Burton. I have already informed the hon. Member that Cahill was convicted for killing rabbits, not on his own farm, but on a farm in the landlord's possession. The prosecution was at the joint suit of Major Hickman and Mr. C. V. Burton.