§ MR. LIDDELLTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been called to the proceedings taken by the syndicate who purchased Lord Morley's Cavan estate against a tenant on the estate, named John Nixon, to recover rent at the rate of £46 a year, though so far back as 1882 Mr. Nixon's rent was reduced to £34 10s. by Lord Morley, and rent paid at that rate for over twenty years; and whether there is an application for sale of the estate before the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, will the Commissioners be informed that what ever rent Mr. Nixon may be technically held liable to pay in the present proceedings, the rent really paid and accepted for over twenty years was at the rate of £34 10s.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have no knowledge of the proceedings referred to in the first part of' the Question. The estate of Crookenden and Casey (late Lord Morley's) is at present before the Commissioners, who are considering the question of purchasing it under Section 6. An inspection of the estate has been directed, and the matter alleged in the Question will be inquired into by the inspector in due course.