§ MR. SLOANTo ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that three and a half years ago an agreement was made for sale to the tenants on the Manor Shamrock estate, county Fermanagh; that the Estates Commissioners have been collecting from the tenants interest on the purchase money at the rate of 3½ per cent. which they pay over to the agent of the estate, and by him distributed among the owners, thus entailing on them the cost of collection, besides the owners losing all interest on the bonus of 12 per cent. to which they are entitled on the purchase money; and whether, in view of these facts, he can state the cause of delay on the part of the Estates 1399 Commissioners in advancing the purchase money.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners are unable, from the particulars given, to identify the estate in question as one in regard to which proceedings are pending before them. If the name and address of the owner should be furnished to them they would have further search made.