§ Mr. JOHN PHILLIPSasked the Chief Secretary whether he has received or whether the Estates Commissioners have received, a petition from the inhabitants of Ballymahon, Ireland, praying the Estates Commissioners to acquire a part of the Suldham estate, Ballymulvey, township of Ballymahon, now for sale, and which has been used by the people of Ballymahon for the past hundred years for securing a milk supply for the poor of Ballymahon, and thereby preventing the disease of tuberculosis from breaking out in the town on account of the milk supply 1391W being reduced or cut off altogether if some of this land is not acquired; and will he say what action he or the Estates Commissioners will take to secure part of this land for the same purpose for which it was always made use?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have received the petition referred to, and have forwarded it to the Estates Commissioners, who are in communication with the owner in reference to the lands in question. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to make any statement as regards the inquiry in the concluding portion of the question.
§ Mr. MEAGHERasked the Chief Secretary whether the mineral rights on the Clifden estate, Ballyragget and Rathkyle, county Kilkenny, have been leased by the Estates Commissioners, and, if so, to whom are they leased; whether the moneys received for the same will he placed to the credit of the tenant purchasers for the repayment of the purchase moneys; and whether there is any condition in the lease for the immediate working of the mines on the same estate?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Land Commission have arranged to make a prospecting lease to Mr. James J. Parkinson of the mineral rights reserved to them under Section 13 (3) of the Irish Land Act, 1903, in respect of the lands of Byrnes Grove and Rathkyle, on the estate of Lady Annaly. The lease will contain provisions to ensure that prospecting is carried out. The profit derived from the letting cannot be applied in the manner suggested by the hon. Member. It must be disposed of in the manner provided by Section 1 (3) of the Irish Land Act, 1907, and Section 28 (2) of the Irish Land Act, 1909.
§ Mr. MEAGHERasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that it was one of the conditions in the sale of the land to Mrs. Hanoria Kenny, Ballylinnen. Castle comer, on the Wandesforde estate, to have the roadway to the pits properly fenced and maintained by the vendor; that at the last Quarter Sessions in Kilkenny Mrs. Kenny had Mr. Wandesforde processed for damage to his lands owing to the bad state of the fences; and whether he will see that some steps are taken to prevent Kenny's land from being trespassed on through the failure to have the fences properly maintained?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that the holding has1392W been vested in the purchasing tenant in accordance with the purchase agreement signed by her, and they have no power to interfere in the matter. If either of the parties consider their rights are being interfered with it is open to them to take such legal proceedings as they may be advised.
§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay in the completion of the sale of the estate of Mrs. Elizabeth A. Foster, situate at Ballyratton, near Moville, in the county of Donegal, by the Land Commission to her tenants; and when this estate is likely to be reached?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and will be dealt with in order of priority on the principal register of direct sales, but having regard to the claims of other estates the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked whether the Congested Districts Board have received a Petition asking the Board to acquire for the relief of congestion and the settlement of the people the Dunmoran ranch, in the townland of Goodry, parish of Skreen, county Sligo; and if the Chief Secretary will state what action the Board propose to take for the acquisition of this ranch, by compulsion or otherwise?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Beard have received the Petition referred to, and they have communicated with the owner, inquiring whether he would be willing to negotiate for a sale of the property through them.