§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any action recently towards facilitating the completion of the sale of the estate of Mr. Joseph Philpott, Knocknacolon, Duhallow, county Cork, No. 2986 E. C., in which case five tenants signed purchase agreements in August, 1905; if the Commissioners are aware that this gentleman sold to these tenants with a view to purchase his own holding; that he is still held liable to pay a rack rent of £219 17s. to the head 347 landlord and all tithe rent charges, and is in receipt of only £26 18s. 6d. purchase annuities from the tenants; whether the Commissioners will take into consideration the exceptional position of Mr. Philpott, with a view to have the case taken out of order and dealt with speedily in order to relieve him from payment of this head rent.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners inform me that they will consider the facts of this case, with the view of deciding whether the circumstances are such as to warrant its being taken up out of its proper turn.