§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that discontent exists in the neighbourhood of Rathkenny, county Meath, on account of the contemplated sale of the lands of Mullaha, owned by Dr. Kelly Patterson, to a private purchaser; whether he is aware that the owner is willing to sell to the Estates Commissioners for the same consideration as to a private buyer; and whether, in the interests of public peace and policy, they will reopen negotiations with the owner with the object of acquiring the lands for distribution between the local applicants?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on this subject on 1st April last, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the un-tenanted land on the Blackburn estate, situate at Footstown, county Meath; if they have received applications for portions of it from suitable local applicants; and whether there is any intention of bringing a tenant from a distance to occupy it?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe owner has accepted the Estates Commissioners' proposal to purchase 265 acres of untenanted land on the townland of Footstown Great. They have not yet approved of any scheme for the division of this land, and when the scheme is being prepared all applications for portions of the land received by the Commissioners will be duly considered.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of the question?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere is no settled intention of bringing a tenant from a distance.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether the inspector from the Estates Commissioners who visited the Nicholson estate, county Meath, had an interview with the youthful applicant for an advance, named Farrell; whether the inquiries into all the circumstances of this case are yet completed; and whether the sale is for cash or stock?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second paragraph in the negative. The vendor has elected to take payment partly in cash and partly in stock.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the Estates Commissioners had for a number of years approved of and noted Francis Hopkins, evicted from the estate of Colonel Lyster Smythe, county Meath, as a suitable person for a parcel of untenanted land; that, in consequence of a report from one of their inspectors, his name was recently removed from the list of approved applicants on the ground that he was not a competent farmer; and that a memorial has been signed by clergymen of different religious denominations and others well acquainted with Hopkins testifying to his fitness to work a farm and stating that in their belief, having regard to the circumstances of his eviction, he was entitled to consideration; and whether the prayer of the memorialists will be conceded?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners received an application from Francis Hopkins for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the estate referred to, and his name was provisionally noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land. On further inquiry and consideration the Commissioners decided in the exercise of the discretion vested in them to take no action in the matter. They have received a communication of the nature referred to in the second paragraph of the question, but cannot see their way to depart from the decision they have come to.
§ Mr. PATRICK WHITECan the right hon Gentleman state why this Gentleman 556 who had been five or six years on the approved list was passed over?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIt has never been considered desirable on the floor of this House to state the reasons why the Estates Commissioners in the exercise of their discretion give a decision on a delicate point like this.