Mr. KELLYasked whether proceedings for the sale of the estate of Joseph Johnson, (continued in the name of Charlotte Johnson), owner Thomas Elliot, petitioner, are still pending; and, if so what is the cause of the delay in this case; and is he aware that the solicitor for the tenants was informed by the Estates Commissioners that they expected to be in a position in October last to serve the necessary notices to enable the sale to proceed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Registrar of the Land Judge's Court informs me that the grant in lieu of the lease for lives referred to in my reply to the hon. Member's question of 27th February last has not yet been executed owing to further difficulties as to title which are being dealt with. No sales in connection with this estate appear to be pending before the Estates Commissioners, who are unable, from the particulars available, to trace the communication with the tenants' solicitor referred to in the question.
§ Mr. BIRRELLYes, Sir; they are.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked when the negotiations for the purchase by the Congested Districts Board of the Ellis Estate at Bushfield and Ballymaglancy, in the county of Roscommon, commenced; and what was the cause of the delay in having the purchase completed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate was offered under the Act of 1909 to the Congested Districts Board in February, 1910. The estate has been inspected, and an offer will soon be made to the landlord.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked what was the present state of the negotiations for the purchase by the Congested Districts Board of the Bowen and White Estate at Ballymacurly, county Roscommon?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me chat the owners have refused to negotiate for the sale of this estate.
§ Mr. HAYDENasked whether the Estates Commissioners have yet been able to ascertain the exact acreage and valuation of the holdings in the rural district of Glenamaddy, county Galway, surrendered by Messrs. John and James Payne, and the acreage and valuation of the fee simple holding given to them in exchange on the Crofton estate, in the county Roscommon; and whether he can explain the delay in ascertaining this information?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMessrs. Payne surrendered 523 acres of land on the Pollok Estate, county Galway, the poor law valuation being £326 10s., in exchange for 334 acres on the Crofton Estate, county Roscommon, with a valuation of £389. There has been no avoidable delay on the part of the Estates Commissioners in. obtaining this information.
§ Mr. HAYDENMay I ask whether it is not a fact the Commissioners could get this information by return of post from the County Council offices at Galway, but have delayed three months, and I have had to put seven questions in order to get it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI do not know that I am to blame in the matter. If the hon. Member had put down a question since 13th April, the information could have been given at once, so the delay has not occurred since that date.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether untenanted land on the Alexander estate, situate at Cruicestown, Nobber, county Meath, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; and with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of direct sale proceedings under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the vendor has included for sale to the Estates Commissioners some 272 acres of the lands of Cruicestown. When the estate is being dealt with in order of priority the Commissioners will consider the question of purchasing these lands.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any progress had been made in the matter of the offer of Mr. James W. Bond, D.L., Farragh, to sell the untenanted lands of Coolcraff, county Longford, to the Estates 1359 Commissioners for the extension of uneconomic holdings in the parish of Abbeylara, North Longford?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have directed an inspection to be made of these lands with a view to estimating the price which might be advanced for them, but they have not yet received their inspector's report.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Hugh Carry, Monknewtown, Slane, county Meath, for a parcel of untenanted land; and whether they have any land purchased, or negotiating the acquisition of, in the immediate neighbourhood?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners are unable from the information in the question to identify the application of Hugh Carry for a parcel of untenanted land.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked whether the Estates Commissioners have considered the petition recently lodged with them to have the O'Grady Delmege estate at Glensharrold, county Limerick, declared a congested one; whether the turbary on the estate is being sold to outsiders, and hat, unless the Commissioners buy the estate at once there will be no turbary left for the tenants during the period of the repayment of the purchase annuities; and whether, under these circumstances, the Commissioners will buy the estate without further delay?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe petition referred to was received by the Estates Commissioners on 10th April, and they are at present in communication with the representatives of the tenants on the subject.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYWho are the representatives of the tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI will ascertain.