§ MR. SULLIVAN (Westmeath, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland were the holdings and the tenants on Colonel Smythe's estate, in South Westmeath, seen by any inspector on behalf of the Estates Commissioners before the sale was sanctioned; how did the Commissioners come to sanction an agreement which an intermittent lunatic tenant was induced to sign to purchase a farm consisting mainly of a swamp at the price fixed on; will the Commissioners have this particular holding inspected before suing for pay- 418 ment of annuities; and if the price and the bonus have been paid to Colonel Smythe, will the Commissioners take any action to recover the excess?
MR. BRYCEThe Estates Commissioners inform me that agreements for purchase in respect of the estate of Colonel James Smyth of Gaybrook were lodged with them in August, 1905. The holdings comprising the estate have not yet been inspected, and it is not anticipated that the inspection will take place this year. The Commissioners are unable to identify the holding to which the Question refers, but if full particulars should be furnished to them they will have the matter inquired into when the inspection is being made.