§ 14. Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he was consulted by the Estates Commissioners as to the scheme made by them for the division amongst the uneconomic tenants adjoining of the lands of Monascallaghan on the McCutchcon estate, barony of Moydow, county Longford; whether he is aware that it is proposed to hand over 100 acres of the best of this farm to two adjoining graziers named Frayne and Farrell, one of whom holds 160 acres and the other 230 already, whilst a number of poor tenants holding only 3 and 4 acres of bog are being excluded; whether he is aware that resentment and ill-feeling have been aroused owing to this action; whether he will name the inspector who first inquired into this settlement; whether he is a well-known county Longford Unionist and Freemason who has made this arrangement to suit his Unionist friends; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. DUKEThe reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Estates Commissioners have made a proposal to purchase this estate under the Irish Land Acts which has been accepted by the owner. The lands in the occupation of Messrs. Frayne and Farrell are not included in the said proposal, and as the hon. Member was informed when he called at the Estates Commissioners' offices on the 27th ultimo, the Commissioners do not propose to allot any lands to be acquired by them to these persons. The Estates Commissioners strongly deprecate the suggestion contained in the concluding paragraph of the question.