§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland upon what date purchase agreements were lodged with the Estates Commissioners on behalf of tenants on the estate of Colonel Everard, county Meath; what rate of interest is being paid in lieu of rent; whether there is any exceptional delay in completing the sale; and, if so, what is the cause of the delay?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThere are two estates belonging to Colonel Everard, in the county Meath, pending before the Estates Commissioners for sale direct to the tenants. The purchase agreements on the first estate were lodged on 2nd January, 1906, and in the second estate on 27th October, 1908, and 26th April, 1909. The tenants are paying interest in lieu of rent at the rate of 3¾ per cent. per annum on the purchase money. The estates have not yet been reached in their order of priority.
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§ Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked whether three evicted tenants from Lord Gormans-town's estate were given farms on the M'Cann estate at Brigstown, Ardee, county Meath; if they were allowed a grant to build houses; whether it was expended; whether they have entered into occupation of the farms; and if they are precluded from selling them for a period of time?
§ Mr. BIRRELLTwo evicted tenants from the estate of Lord Gormanstown have been given holdings on the estate of T. S. McCann, county Meath, and the holdings were vested in them on 28th February, 1907. They were given free grants in one case for buildings, and the purchase of stock. They signed the usual deed of covenant charging the free grants on the holdings, but providing that if,inter alia, their interest in the holdings was not sold within five years from the date of vesting the charges would then cease.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked the Chief Secretary (1) whether any sums of money were paid to tenants whose holdings on the Morley or Crookenden and Casey estate, county Cavan, were increased, or who got new farms, and if equal treatment was meted out to all; do the Commissioners consider that any land on this estate is worth 10s. per acre; is he aware that one of the inspectors promised prospective tenants sums of money for repairs to houses, etc., to get the land taken up, and endeavoured in other ways to cause a rivalry amongst the tenants to bid for the ranches; and will he say what is the highest and lowest price per acre now charged to the tenants for the ranches referred to or, if there has been a loss on the transaction, what is the extent of the same; and (2) whether any ranches have been acquired on the estate; how much per acre was paid for Mrs. Carson's land and the other portions acquired, respectively; who negotiated in these transactions; and, if not yet completed, whether he will say what is the present position?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have purchased this estate under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and with a view to relieving congestion are in negotiation, through their inspector, to acquire Mrs. Carson's interest as tenant of some 550 acres on the property for £999. If the Commissioners acquire such interest the lands will be divided up as untenanted land into separate holdings or enlargements, and the Commissioners will ex- 765W pend such sums as they may sanction for buildings, fences, and other purpose. They have not yet acquired possession of the land, and have not therefore expended any money on such improvements. With a view to preparing a scheme for the resale of the lands, if acquired as untenanted, the inspector informed the proposed allottees of the amounts he would be prepared to recommend the Commissioners to expend on improvements, and mentioned the amount which he considered they might give by way of free grants. Certain of these persons have refused to purchase on these terms, and the proceedings have consequently been delayed, and the Commissioners are not in a position at present to give the information asked for in the concluding portion of the question.