§ Mr. LUNDONasked if the Estates Commissioners have received a resolution from the Limerick County Council asking them to acquire the lands of Ballynanty, Bruff, county Limerick, from Mr. Wilmot Smith; and will steps be taken to have the wishes of the council acceded to?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe resolution referred to has been received, and will be duly considered by the Estates Commissioners.
§ Mr. MEYSEY-THOMPSONWhat is the cause of the delay in acquiring this property? The question has been under consideration for some years now.
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Estates Commissioners are very much pressed by work. There are innumerable claims upon them.
§ Mr. MEYSEY-THOMPSONWill the right hon. Gentleman see that steps are taken to inquire?
§ Mr. RUSSELLI shall bring it to the notice of the Department.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked whether the Estates Commissioners at any time approached Captain Gubbins, of Glenbrohane, Knocklong, county Limerick, with a view to the purchase of the untenanted land he holds in that district; if so, was any arrangement come to; and, if no definite decision was come to at the first instance, will negotiations be reopened?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Estates Commissioners have been in communication with the owner's solicitor regarding the sale of the untenanted land on this estate to them. They propose to have a preliminary inspection made of the lands with the view of estimating the price which they would be prepared to offer for them in the event of the owners instituting formal proceedings for sale to the Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any complaint was made to the inspector who visited the estate of Mr. James W. Bond, at Rhyne, county Longford, by four of the tenants that they had been deprived of their bog, contrary to the agreement made with the landlord at the time of sale; and whether, as bog is an essential part of the amenities of an agricultural holding in Ireland and the landlord has retained in his hands more than an ample quantity out of which these men could be supplied, the Commissioners before passing this sale, will now be directed to require the landlord to supply these men with the turbary to which by the agreement they are entitled?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Estates Commissioners have not yet received the report of their inspector who was directed to visit this estate. When they are dealing with the estate the matter referred to by the hon. Member will be fully considered.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked whether any report has yet been made by the inspector appointed to visit the lands of Coolcraft, on the estate of Mr. James W. Bond; whether any offer has yet been communicated to the landlord in reference to that 541 inspection; and, if not, when this matter, which has now been going on for nearly two years, will be finally undertaken by the Estates Commissioners and dealt with by them?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The Estates Commissioners have communicated to the owner a preliminary estimate of the amount which they would be prepared to advance if the owner institutes formal proceedings for the sale of these lands to the Commissioners, but the owner has hot yet instituted such proceedings.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary if he can state the present position as regards the sale of the untenanted lands of Killasonnagh, on the estate of Mr. Richard Davoren; whether he is aware that six years ago these tenants, to the number of eleven, signed agreements for sale on condition that the untenanted portion of the property be divided amongst them; whether the inspector who visited the estate told these tenants that all this property was purchased by the Estates Commissioners for sub-division amongst the tenants; and, if so, what is the cause of the delay in vesting the property and distributing these lands amongst the people for whom they were intended?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe Estates Commissioners are not aware that the tenants signed agreements for the purchase of their holdings six years ago. The estate is being purchased by the Commissioners, and the owner has accepted their offer. The Commissioners hope to deal with the estate early next year.