§ MR. T. SMYTHI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he is aware that several tenants on the Maguire estate, in county Leitrim, wore served with final notices for the sale of the property in 1895, and that the hearing was adjourned from time to time without assigning any cause; that a Commissioner visited the estate in 1902, who informed the tenants that the lands wore in the Land Judge's Court, and that those who had notices served for second-term fixtures would get the equivalent or three years purchase; that when the tenants appeared before Judge Ross the Commissioner, whose name was Mr. Roberts, stated that they agreed to buy at a higher purchase, which was twenty years; the tenants objected, and explained the case to the judge, who gave judgment for them; that their case was neglected, while some of the tenants on other portions of the property bought their holdings in 1904; that the receiver on the estate, who is sub-sheriff of Cavan, has notified the tenants who have not bought that he is prepared to accept offers, and that he will give reductions of 2s., 4s., and 6s. in the pound; and whether he will instruct the Estates Commissioners to investigate the case.
MR. BRYCEthe Registrar of the Land Judge's Court informs mo that, with one exception, all of the thirty-four tenants on this estate were offered their holdings under the 40th Section of the Act of 1896. As a result, twenty-eight of the tenants purchased, and their 952 holdings have been vested in them. The remainder refused the terms offered, being dis-satisfied with the turbary allotments assigned to them. The Registrar states that it is not the case there was any adjournment without cause assigned. The Assistant Commissioner who visited the estate for the purposes of the Land Commission is dead, and there is now no moans of ascertaining what statements he may have made to the tenants. He had, however, no authority to make any statement as regards price, which was a matter for the Land Judge, and he did not as a matter of fact make any report to the Land Judge on the subject. I am informed that the remaining tenants are now negotiating with the receiver for the purchase of their holdings, but it will be for the Land Judge to determine whether their offers should be accepted. The matter is not one, in its present stage, for the Estates Commissioners.