§ MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that on Sunday the 13th instant a notice appeared outside the church of Ballinakill, county Galway, signed by the Rev. Martin Larkin, P.P., asking the tenants on a portion of the property of Sir Henry Burke, of Marble Hill, to meet him on the following Tuesday in reference to the purchase of their holdings; whether he induced some of those present to offer twenty-one years purchase, and had the estate bailiff, named Campbell, present to take down the names of those induced to consent to that offer; and whether, seeing that a portion of the tenants are in arrear, he will see that if they are unduly pressed for recovery of same, and thereby coerced to agree to that price, the estate shall be inspected before any public money is advanced.
MR. BRYCEThe Estates Commissioners inform me that no proceedings for the sale of the particular portion of the estate of Sir Henry Burke which is referred to in the Question have yet come before them, and they have no information as to the matters of fact alleged in the Question. If proceedings for sale should come before the Commissioners, they will take any steps which they may consider necessary and proper in the circumstances, having regard to the powers vested in them.