§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the Chief Secretary whether the recent purchase from Mr. Cochrane, Bailieborough, under the afforestation scheme of the Department of Agriculture, of 404 acres at a cost of £3,293, is only a part of a considerable estate, including a mansion house, recently purchased by Mr. Cochrane;: whether the sum paid by the Department to Mr. Cochrane is almost equal to the sum he himself paid for the whole estate and whether he will explain how pur- 1229W chases made at such rates can ever become a profitable investment to the Department acting for the State?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners brought this estate under the notice of the Department as likely to prove suitable for forestry purposes, and the Department made an offer for the purchase of the 404 acres referred to in the question at the value put upon them by their Forestry Inspector. This offer was accepted by the Commissioners. The Department have no information as to the size of the estate of which the lands formed part, or as to the price at which it was bought by the late owner. They are satisfied that the lands are good value for the price which they paid.