§ Mr. HORNERasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the dates on which the agreements for sale of the Ranfurly estate, county Tyrone, were filed with the Irish Land Commission, the total number of agreements filed, the number of vesting orders issued, and the reasons for withholding the vesting orders where they have not been issued?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)Six hundred and ninety-seven agreements for the purchase of holdings on the estate referred to were lodged with the Estates Commissioners, the majority being lodged on 7th November, 1904, and 25th May, 1905. Orders vesting 664 of the holdings have been made and, when certain outstanding matters have been settled, the vesting orders in twelve other cases will be made. In the remaining twenty-one cases the Commissioners have, after inquiry, and in the exercise of their discretion, refused to make the advances applied for.
§ Mr. DELANYasked when and under what circumstances the tenancy of Richard Thompson, in the farm of Castlegrogan, Hopkins estate, Errill, Ballybrophy, Queen's County, was created; whether this farm was untenanted and held under an eleven months' grazing 1040 letting up to a recent period; that a request has been made for its distribution amongst the uneconomic holders in. the locality; and what steps the Estates Commissioners propose taking in this matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners cannot identify the lands of Castlegrogan as being the subject of proceedings for sale before them under the Land Purchase Acts, and they have no information as regards: the tenancy referred to in the question.