§ Mr. O'SHEEasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that the purchase agreements entered into by the tenants on the estate of the Rev. X. Gyles Carew, county Waterford, were signed by them on 22nd November, 1905, and were not lodged with the Estates Commissioners until 2nd March, 1906; that the tenants have had to pay 4 per cent. interest on their purchase money for the period during which the landlord delayed in having these agreements lodged; that the estate also lost its priority by the delay; whether the Estates Commissioners, at the request of some of the tenants, arranged to send down an inspector last May, but no inspection has yet taken place; when is such inspection likely to take place; and can the Estates Commissioners refund to the tenants, or can the tenants recover from the vendor, the amount of interest for the period referred to which they have been compelled to pay owing to the negligence of the vendor?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the purchase agreements, dated 22nd November, 1905, were not lodged in the Land Commission until 2nd March, 1906, from which date the estate takes its priority. In their purchase agreements the tenants contracted to pay interest in lieu of rent at 4 per cent., and the Commissioners have no power to vary the rate agreed upon between the parties. The Commissioners made no such arrangement as that stated in the question, and are not prepared to have the estate inspected out of its priority. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when the property will be reached for inspection.