§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is 1277 aware that agreements for the sale of the estates of the Marquis of Ely in county Fermanagh were perfected so long ago as November or December, 1903; whether the proceedings for sale to the tenants are still pending; if so, what is the cause of the delay in completion; and whether he will direct the attention of the Estates Commissioners to this property with a view to purchase by them, if direct sale to the tenants be not possible.
MR. BRYCEI must ask the hon. Member to postpone this Question for a few days. The estate referred to is in the Land Judge's Court, but the Registrar of the Court informs me that, having regard to the short notice given, he has been unable to furnish a report in the matter. The estate has not come before the Estates Commissioners. May I say that out of more than fifty Questions which appeared on the Paper to-day more than twenty only appeared in yesterday morning's papers, and it is really quite impossible for me to get answers from Ireland in time. I must therefore ask hon. Members to give me more notice unless it is a matter of urgency.