§ Mr. HAYDENasked the date upon which agreements between the landlord and tenants on the Biron estate, situated 147 at Brideswell, near Athlone, in county Roscommon, were lodged with the Estates Commissioners; and if he can explain the cause of the delay in having the holdings vested in the occupiers?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere were no agreements between landlords and tenants lodged in this case. This estate was the subject of proceedings in the Land Judge's Court, and was purchased by the Estates Commissioners from the Land Judge in 1906. It was a congested estate, and the holdings were intermixed, and the Commissioners proposed to prepare a scheme for rearranging the holdings before vesting them in the tenants, who, however, would not consent to this being done, and the Commissioners postponed the vesting of the holdings until the tenants would agree to the restriping of the lands.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether any offer has yet been made by the Congested Districts Board for the Hunter estate, situate at Cloontubrid, Turlough, county Mayo; whether the agent and solicitors of the estate intimated to the Board in February last the owners' willingness to sell; whether the average valuation of the tenants' holdings is £3 2s. 6d.; whether the tenants are now processed for rent; and whether, having regard to the congested condition of the estate and the impoverished state of the tenants, the Board will endeavour to acquire the property forthwith?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo offer has yet been made by the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of this estate. A memorial was received from the tenants in 1910 in which the valuation of the holdings as stated was given. The Board communicated with the agent and asked whether the owner was willing to negotiate for the sale of the estate, but no reply has been received. I have no information as to the tenants being processed for rent. The Board will again communicate with the agent.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether he is aware that Mr. D. G. Fitzgerald, Turlough Park, county Mayo, has offered his estates to the Congested Districts Board for sale; that the tenants sent two memorials to the Board requesting them to purchase the estates, one in 1905 and the other in March, 1910; and, as negotiations for the sale of these estates have been carried on between landlord and tenants for the last six years, will the Board now proceed to 148 have the property valued, with a view to purchase as soon as possible?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMr. Fitzgerald has offered his estate to the Congested Districts Board, and an inspection of it will be made and a decision arrived at regarding its purchase as soon as practicable. Memorials from the tenants requesting the Board to purchase the estate were received in December, 1909; January and February, 1910.