§ COLONEL McCALMONT (Antrim, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland what has caused the delay on the part of the Estates Commissioners in sanctioning the making of a new road from Snowy Glen to Straid, County Antrim, a distance of 287 perches, at a cost of £719, all parties concerned being in accord in the matter, which was sanctioned by the county council in 1904, previous to the tenants entering into agreements for purchase with the trustees of the Marquess of Downshire.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The purchase agreements relating to the portion of the Downshire estate referred to in the Question were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in July, 1906, and the case has not yet reached its turn to be dealt with. The Commissioners cannot identify the particular matter alluded to in the Question, but in any case the matter would not appear to be one for their consideration at the present stage of the proceedings.