§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any reply has yet been received from the agent, Mr. E. H. Bond, Fairy Hall, Rathowen, as to the sale to the Commissioners, for division amongst the people, of the untenanted lands of Prospect, county Longford; and, if not, will the Commissioners now communicate with him?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question of the 9th inst. on this subject. The Estates Commissioners have not been furnished with the further particulars asked for, and338W they have not, therefore, addressed any communication to Mr. R. H. Bond.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLalso asked the Chief Secretary when the Estates Commissioners propose to have the lands of Coolcraff, county Longford, inspected and an offer made to the landlord, Mr. J. W. Bond; and will he direct that notice of the visit of the inspector will be sent to the parish priest, Very Rev. Dr. Langan, P.P., Abbeylara, with a view to some representatives of the people in the district being consulted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners will have the lands referred to inspected as soon as practicable with a view to estimating the price which might be advanced for them. At present they are unable to fix a date for the inspection or to give an undertaking as to the persons to whom notice may be given of such inspection.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the action of Lord Longford in suing and decreeing for various sums his tenants of Longford townparks and refusing to sell to them as he has already done with the other parts of his estate; whether it is intended to use the forces of the Crown to assist Lord Longford in the recovery of these decrees; and whether, before doing so, in the interests of peace in the locality, he will communicate through the Estates Commissioners with Lord Longford, and suggest to him to sell to the tenants through the Commissioners, and to prevent disturbance in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLMy attention has been called to the matter referred to in the first paragraph of the question. The Government will be bound to afford the Sheriff whatever protection may be necessary in executing the decrees of the Court of Quarter Sessions. This is not a case for the intervention of the Estates Commissioners.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLnext asked when the agreements entered by the tenants on the estate of Mr. James W. Bond, D.L., at Farragh, county Longford, will be considered; whether any inspector has yet been sent to these lands; whether any offer has been made to Mr. Bond to acquire the untenanted lands of Klyne on the estate for division amongst the uneconomic holdings; and if so, will the division take place this year or when?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLProceedings for the sale of the estate of Mr. J. W. Bond direct from the owner to the tenants are pending before the Estates Commissioners. The owner has included some 118 acres of untenanted lands on the townland of Rhine, which he proposes to sell to the Commissioners. The estate has not yet been inspected, but the Commissioners anticipate that it will be reached in order of priority during the coming financial year, when they will consider the desirability of acquiring the untenanted land offered by the owner.
§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLlikewise asked what steps are being taken to provide land in any part of county Longford, or adjacent counties, for Messrs. Joseph Mullooly, senior, Joseph Mullooly, junior, and Patrick Owens, evicted tenants of county Longford, whose farms have been taken by other tenants, and for whom no provision has yet been made under the Evicted Tenants Act; and whether any action will now be taken to so provide for them, or, if not, when?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have inquired into the applications of Joseph Mullooly, senior, and Joseph Mullooly, junior, for reinstatement in holdings on the estate of Lord Annally, county Longford, and have decided to take no action in their cases. The Commissioners have also received an application for reinstatement from Patrick Owens, and have noted his name for consideration in the allotment of any suitable untenanted land which may be acquired by them.