§ MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can 1240 say what progress has been made in the proposed sale of the estate of Captain Caldbeck Ballacolla, Queen's County, to the Estates Commissioners; whether the Commissioners have made an offer to Captain Caldbeck; and, if so, has the offer been accepted, and has the division of the untenanted land amongst a few large farmers and business men met with the Commissioners' approval.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell) The Estates Commissioners have communicated to the vendor the estimated price which they are prepared to give, and have also intimated that they would be prepared to make advances for the purchase of certain village holdings provided that the tenants should bring in certain additional sums in cash. The tenants have declined to bring in the amounts named by the Commissioners, but have offered lesser sums, and their offers are at present under consideration. Until the owner has agreed to sell, the Commissioners will not consider the question of the distribution of the untenanted land.