§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the tenants on the estate of Christopher James Hennessy and Olive Mary Hennessy, minors, situate in part at Kilgalvan, in the parishes of Knockaderry and Clonveagh, in the county of Limerick, were, by order of the Lord Chancellor in the Chancery Division of the High Court of Justice in Ireland, ordered to pay the hanging gale of rent running on the estate for generations; can he say why this hanging gale has been demanded contrary to the custom of the estate; is he aware that the tenants are anxious to purchase their holdings on fair terms under the Land Purchase Acts, but they do not know with whom to negotiate terms; and whether he can give any information that may lead to the purchase by them of their holdings?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am informed by the Lord Chancellor that upon the death of Mrs. Hennessy last year a Receiver was appointed over un undivided moiety of the property to which the minor Olive Hennessy had succeeded, and in accordance with the practice of the Court of Chancery a side bar order in the usual form requiring the tenants to pay the Receiver "Rents and arrears of rent due and owing by them respectively out of their respective holdings" was made and served on the tenants. In March, 1914, several of the tenants not having paid the rent due March, 1913, the Receiver applied to them for payment of the rent due 29th September, 1913. One tenant paid the rent due to that date. All the other tenants owe the gale due on that date. In Mrs. Hennessy's lifetime some of the tenants expressed a wish to purchase their holdings, but she did not entertain the proposal. Any application for sale addressed to the Receiver or the Registrar of the Court will be duly considered.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary when the Congested Districts Board intend dividing the Towerhill grass lands, on 1368W the estate of Colonel Blake, county Mayo, among the congested landholders of the district; and when they intend distributing the available turbary among these landholders?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estate referred to was not vested in the Congested Districts Board until the 24th March, 1914. The rearrangement of the properly prior to resale to the tenants will be undertaken as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary when the Congested Districts Board intend to distribute among the congested landholders of the district Kilgreena grass farm, on the Owen and Browne estate, county Mayo; and when the Board hope to be able to provide the small landholders with turbary?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Owens and Browne estate is not yet vested in the Congested Districts Board. Until the estate is vested the Board cannot undertake the rearrangement or enlargement of holdings or the allocation of turbary.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. John Duncan, of Turlough, county Mayo, has yet carried out his promise to lodge with the Congested Districts Board the necessary maps and papers relating to his congested estate with a view to a sale?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe maps and documents in connection with this estate have not yet been lodged with the Congested Districts Board.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether the sale of the estate of the Marquess of Sligo, county Mayo, to the Congested Districts Board has yet been completed; what reservations of land, fishery, and shooting rights have been agreed to, or when the Board hope to be able to complete the sale?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board inform me that the sale of the estate referred to has not yet been completed, and the reservations have not yet been finally agreed upon.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet issued an offer to Mr. D. G. Fitzgerald, Turlough, county Mayo, for his estate; and, if not, can he explain the cause of the delay which has caused so much dissatisfaction amongst the tenants of the estate during the past year?
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§ Mr. BIRRELLThe offer of the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of the estate referred to was issued on the 27th January last, and a revised offer was issued on the 20th instant.