§ Mr. MOOREasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Messrs. Reid and M'Endoo have owned in their own occupation since 1863 the lands of Caraun, county Westmeath; if he will state whether their resident agent is now, and for some time past has been, rigidly boycotted; if he is aware that Messrs. Reid and M'Endoo have agreed to sell all their tenanted land in the neighbourhood to the tenants in occupation and have handed over free of charge a bog of 70 acres, that compensations for malicions injuries to cattle on the lands of Caraun has been awarded, and that the Land Judge has already committed to prison 12 men for interfering with the possession by Messrs., Reid and M'Endoo; and whether, seeing that this land is the principal source of income of the owners, he will say if it is intended, by the means at the disposal of the Estates Commissioners, to force them to surrender it to organised intimidation?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed that the lands in question are the property of two ladies, Miss Reid and Miss McEndoo, but I have no information as to the length of time during which they have been in occupation or as to any arrangement which they may have come to with their tenants. The estate is for sale in the Land Judge's Court, and a number of men were committed in July last for interference with it. The agent has been rigidly boycotted for some time past, but I am informed by the police authorities that his position is now somewhat improved. He was awarded compensation in January, 1908, for injuries to cattle on these lands. As I informed the hon. Member for North Westmeath, in reply to a question asked by him yesterday, the Estate Commissioners have decided to take no steps at present with a view to acquiring these lands.