§ Mr. MEAGHERasked whether the Estates Commissioners have received a request to have the town of Castlecomer included in the sale of the Wandesforde estate when the Estates Commissioners are about sanctioning the sale of this property; whether the Commissioners were informed that the town tenants were willing to give Mr. Wandesforde fair and equitable terms for the holdings; and whether the Estates Commissioners will take steps to have the wishes of the tenants of the houses in the town of Castlecomer acceded to?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the owner has not included the houses in Castlecomer in the property which is the subject of proceedings for the sale under the Land Purchase Acts. A request on behalf of the town tenants has been received asking that the premises be included in the sale, and it 713 will be considered by the Commissioners when they are dealing with the estate.
§ Mr. MEAGHERasked when the Estates Commissioners intend sending their inspector to inspect the farms of eighty-three tenants on the Wandesforde property, Castlecomer, who requisitioned the Commissioners at the time of the signing of the purchase agreements to have their farms inspected before the sale would be sanctioned; and whether the Commissioners will notify the tenants of the date of the inspector's visit?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that this estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The papers in connection with the estate have been referred to the inspector, who has been directed to visit the estate. The holdings of any tenants whose purchase agreements do not come within the provisions of Section 1 (1) of the Irish Land Act, 1903, will be inspected for the purposes of security, and the tenants will be notified by the inspector of the date of his visit.
EARL of RONALDSHAYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the interest on the purchase money of Butler's estate, of Ballyauss, county Kildare, for the first half of the year 1911 has been paid; and, if so, if he will lay upon the Table of the House the receipt for such payment, and also all documents relating to the sale and the affidavit used for the purpose of obtaining probate of Butler's will?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the interest in lieu of rent payable by the tenants on the estate for the half-year to the 1st May, 1911, has now been paid, the greater portion having only been received on the 27th instant, and is being paid over to Mr. M. H. Franks, the agent for the owner. The documents relating to the sale, which have been lodged in the offices of the Land Commission, can be inspected by any person interested. The Commissioners have no knowledge of the affidavit used for the purpose of obtaining probate of the vendor's will; it presumably is filed in the offices of the King's Bench Division (Probate) of the High Court of Justice in Ireland.
§ Mr. BIRRELLThey can be inspected at the offices of the Land Commission.