§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have declared the lands of Colonel Alexander, situate at Garistown, county Dublin, an estate; whether he will state what provision has been made to keep the lands arterially drained; what action has been taken with regard to tenants who have refused for specific reasons to purchase their holdings; and whether the Commissioners have refused to advance the whole of the purchase money to some 198W tenants who have signed agreements, and for what reason?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThese lands have been declared an estate. They are subject to a Board of Works loan, which was spent on drainage, and will be redeemed by the owner out of the purchase money. The drainage maintenance rate will be payable by the tenant purchasers as owners when the lands are vested in them. The Estates Commissioners have asked that purchase agreements be lodged in the case of the tenants who have not yet signed such agreements. The Commissioners refused, on the ground of security, to advance the full purchase money in the case of some holdings where there were extensive buildings on the lands.