§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in the estate of Mrs. E. J. Rice and another, Clonmain, county Armagh, in which the sale to the tenants was completed in November, 1905, the purchase money has never been paid; and if he will have inquiries made as to the cause of the delay?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The Land Commission inform me that the purchase money of this estate was advanced and brought to credit of the matter on 4th November last, the day on which the holdings were vested in the tenants. The title to the property was examined and the necessary requisitions were issued to the vendors' solicitors in October last. It rests with them to apply to the court in the prescribed manner for the distribution of the funds.
§ Mr. PATRICK O'BRIEN (on behalf of Mr. John Roche)asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that a num- 1054 ber of tenants on the Ahaseragh and Doon portions of the Clonbrock estate, county Galway, have been processed for interest at 4 per cent, on their purchase moneys; and whether such proceedings became necessary by reason of the Estates Commissioners, who were present at the negotiation, of carrying out their undertaking to complete the sale of this portion of the estate in one year from March, 1908?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI understand that the owner has instituted proceedings for the sale of this estate to the Estates Commissioners, and that it was one of the conditions agreed upon by the tenants that they would pay interest in lieu of rent to the owner at 4 per cent, until the holdings were vested. The Commissioners are informed that the tenants have refused to pay the owner the interest now due, and that he has taken legal proceedings for its recovery. The Commissioners gave no undertaking that the sale would be completed within one year from March, 1908, but they have expedited the proceedings for sale as far as possible.