§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the acreage and Poor Law valuation of the bog held by Captain Smyth, vendor of the Coole estate, Westmeath, and not sold under the Land Purchase Acts; whether the Estates Commissioners or the Agricultural Department ascertained the price at which he would sell the bog; and whether it is saleable under the Land Purchase Acts to a company of local people formed for the purpose of purchasing it to found a peat industry?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners understand that the portion of the bog which was not sold under the Land Purchase Acts contains some 390 acres. They are not in a position to state the Poor Law valuation. The Commissioners are not aware of the price at which the vendor would sell the bog. The answer to the last paragraph of the question would appear to be in the negative.
§ Mr. GINNELLalso asked whether Captain Smyth, vendor of the Coole estate, Westmeath, has any title to the bog there of which he purports to be the owner; if so, will he state its origin, date, nature, by whom conferred, and for what consideration; whether the title to the bog is expressly conferred; whether separately or as part of the adjoining land; and whether any document held to be a title to the bog, or a copy of it, can be seen in the Estates Commissioners' office?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners inform me that some 250 acres of 1247W turbary were included in the lands sold to the purchasing tenants on this estate under the Irish Land Acts, and the owner furnished the requisite evidence as to his title to sell. It would be entirely contrary to their practice for the Land Commission to answer inquiries as regards vendors' titles such as those asked by the hon. Member in this case.