§ Mr. FRANCIS MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the tenants on the M'Ternan estate, parish of Kilaghest, district of Carrick-on-Shannon, county Leitrim, forwarded a memorial to the Congested Districts Board to purchase the estate; and whether, having regard to the fact that 336W there is a large tract of useful turbary and grass lands on the estate, the Board would take steps to acquire it for distribution and the relief of congestion in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have received the memorial referred to. The agent was written to asking if he would offer to sell the estate to the Board, but up to the present they have received no reply.
§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Chief Secretary if the Estates Commissioners received an offer of sale from the owners of the Curran estate, Newmarket, county Cork, their inspector having make an inspection of the property; what was the nature of his report; and if the Commissioners intend taking any further steps in the matter?
§ Mr. BIRRELLProceedings were instituted for the sale to the Estate Commissioners of sixty-eight acres of land situated on the townlands of Scarteen Lower and Newmarket, county Cork, the property of the Trustees of G. Curran. After due inquiry the Commissioners decided to make no offer for the lands. The reports of the inspectors are furnished for the confidential information of the Commissioners.
§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Chief Secretary if he will cause inquiries to be made as to the number and extent of untenanted holdings solely used as grazing ranches in the district of Ballyhea, Charleville, county Cork, with a view to their acquirement by the Estates Commissioners for reinstatement of evicted tenants and division amongst uneconomic holders and deserving labourers?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIf the hon. Member will furnish the Estates Commissioners with the names and addresses of the owners of the lands referred to the Commissioners will consider the desirability of communicating with them, but they cannot undertake to make the inquiries suggested in the question.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked whether any steps have been taken recently to acquire untenanted land on the Roche-Kelly estate, at Ballybricken, county Limerick; have the lands been inspected with a view to a purchase; and, if so, how soon may the arrangements be completed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question of 1st March last, to which I have nothing to add.
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§ Mr. LUNDONasked whether the Com missioners intend to acquire by compulsion the untenanted land on the Smith estate, at Ballynanty, Bruff, county Limerick, which has been for the past fifteen years grazed by Mr. Arthur White, land agent, Limerick; and, in view of the number of families evicted from these lands within the past thirty years, will steps be taken at once to have these lands acquired?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAfter inquiry, the Estates Commissioners have decided not to take any action in reference to the applications for reinstatement received in regard to the lands referred to, and it is not their intention to acquire the lands by compulsion.