§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will state at what date negotiations between the owner and the Estates Commissioners in regard to the purchase of the Cooksborough (county Westmeath) estate of the Hon. E. M. Pakenham took place and the present position of these negotiations; and whether, having regard to the fact that this estate consists almost entirely of untenanted land, he will request the Commissioners to bring the matter to as speedy a termination as possible.
§ MR. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners approached the owner in this case in 1906 with a view to purchasing certain untenanted land, and in 1907 they had a preliminary inspection made with the owner's consent. The Commissioners are now about to inform him of the price which they would be prepared to advance for the land. If the owner should accept this offer and institute proceedings for sale, the Commissioners will deal with the estate as soon as possible.