§ MR. HAZLETON (Galway, N.)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants on the Burke estate, of Lebid, Kilcreeventy, and Knocknagar, County Galway, were recently negotiating with the landlord for the purchase of their holdings, along with two grass farms held by graziers named Quinn and Ryan, but that the Land Commission, having been appealed to, has decided to hold a court at Dunmore next month for the fixing of fair rents on this estate; and whether, in view of the fact that the graziers referred to have additional land, amounting to close on 1,750 acres, the Laud Commission will refuse to take any steps likely to prevent in the future the division amongst the tenants of the two grass farms in question.
(Answered by Mr. Birrell.) I am informed that proceedings for the sale of this estate have not been instituted before the Estate Commissioners. No special application has been made to the Land Commission to fix judicial rents on the estate, as the Question suggests, but some six applications to fix fair rents upon holdings on the estate have been listed for hearing in the ordinary course.