§ MR. LUNDON (Limerick, E.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland if he will ascertain from the Estates Commissioners whether they have at any time been in communication with Mr. Sanders, of Charleville, County Cork, agent to the Cooper estate in Knocklong, County Limerick, over the reinstatement to their evicted farms of John McGrath and Thomas Barry on the same estate, or are the Estate Commissioners aware that William Hatte, the alleged tenant on the farms of McGrath and Barry, is not even a planter nor a farmer, as he does not reside on the lands but in Blackrock, County Dublin, and has never farmed an acre of land, but has been chief clerk in Mr. Sanders' 1187 office, and latterly a partner in the firm; are the Estates Commissioners aware, or can they say, that the farms have been worked by a caretaker; and will the Estates Commissioners resume with Mr. Sanders negotiations for the reinstatement of those tenants.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) The Estates Commissioners have inquired into the cases of the evicted tenants in question, and intend to provide holdings for them if possible. The Commissioners have ascertained that the evicted holdings are occupied by Mr. Hatte, who lives at Blackrock, Dublin, and is partner of Mr. Sanders, the agent of the estate. Mr. Hatte has signed an agreement to purchase the holdings. The Commissioners will consider all the circumstances before making an advance to him. The case of the evicted tenants has been placed in the hands of an inspector with the object of procuring their restoration or of providing other holdings for them.