§ MR. JOHN ROCHE (Galway, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will request the Estates Commissioners to have the grass lands upon the Blakeney estate, County Galway, stripped as soon as possible, and thereby relieve the tenants from the grazing rents which they agreed to pay pending fixing of price; and whether he is aware that the price has been fixed for a considerable time.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners furnished the owner of this estate, at his request, with an estimate of the price which they were prepared to give for the untenanted land. He has since instituted proceedings for the sale to the Commissioners, and they are having the tenanted land inspected, with a view to making an offer for the entire property. When their offer has been accepted and the requirements of the Statute has been complied with, the Commissioners will proceed with the allotment of the untenanted land.