§ Mr. WILLIAM ABRAHAMasked whether the Estates Commissioners had purchased the farm of Kildrum, on the Kingston estate, county Cork, containing about 150 acres, presumably for the purpose of the enlargement of uneconomic holdings, the provision of allotments of land for representatives of evicted tenants and for labourers on the estate; if the Commissioners had been made aware of the dissatisfaction which had been aroused by a proposal to allocate 80 acres of the best portion of the land in question to Mr. Thomas Robinson, a land steward in the employment of the landlord, leaving only the lesser portion of inferior land to be distributed amongst the many applicants who were entitled to benefit by its equitable division; and whether, before giving their sanction and approval of an advance of public money, repayment of which was secured by the ratepayers, to provide for an employé of the landlord, Lady Kingston, a full inquiry would be 474 made into all the circumstances of this transaction?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have not acquired the lands in question, but are in negotiation with the owner with a view to acquiring them. No scheme for the division of the lands has as yet been approved by the Commissioners.