§ Mr. DANIEL BOYLEasked what steps-have been taken by the Congested Districts Board towards acquiring the estate of Mr. H. N. Bushby, Ballycroy, county Mayo, and to have the same distributed amongst the congested holdings of the district?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The necessary documents have been lodged to enable the Congested Districts Board to have this estate inspected with a view to deciding whether they will make an offer for purchase, and the property will be inspected as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. MEAGHERasked if the Danesforth, county Kilkenny, estate of Christopher Cavanagh, esquire, 5, Elm Court Temple, London, is about to be vested in the tenants; if so, what steps, if any, have been taken with a view of restoring to her holding Miss Kate Maher, representative of the late Michael Maher, who was evicted from a holding on this estate about six and a-half years ago; and will the Chief Secretary impress upon the Estates Commissioners the desirability of restoring this person to her holding, which is still derelict, before the purchase money is entirely paid over to the vendor?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the holdings on this estate in respect of which the tenants signed purchase agreements, have been vested in the purchasing tenants. As re- 1261 gards the former holding of Maher, the Commissioners furnished the owner with an estimate of the amount which they would be prepared to advance with a view to selling it to the former tenant's representative, and they are approaching him again in the matter.
§ Mr. JOHN ROCHEasked the date upon which the Congested Districts Board first sent their inspectors to value the Clanricarde estate; how many weeks have they been employed upon the estate; the number so employed each week; the number of days per week each inspector has been at work there; and whether the Chief Secretary can give any idea of when the Board will be in a position to make an offer for the estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that the first valuer reached the estate on the 3rd May. There are four valuers and two surveyors engaged on the valuation, and the valuers have worked forty-six, forty-five, thirty-eight, and thirty days respectively. The surveyors have worked fifty and thirty days respectively. The Board hope to be in a position to make an offer for this estate in September.
Mr. KELLYasked if the Congested Districts Board have concluded negotiations for the sale of the Hayes estate, Convoy, county Donegal; if so, what are the terms which have been agreed on; have all the tenants agreed to the terms; and has any arrangement been made as to arrears?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have not yet agreed as to the terms of purchase of this estate, but it has been arranged for a representative of the Board to confer with the tenants this week and discuss the matter.
§ Mr. BIRRELLSome day this week.
§ Mr. BIRRELLI will endeavour to find out.