§ Mr. SAMUEL YOUNGasked the Chief Secretary if he can state why the Land Commissioners would not accept as a tenant, on his father's death, Charles Haste, of Kilnacourt, county Cavan, but refused his instalment and sold his farm without serving either notice or process; and what steps will be taken to redress this grievance?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe holding which was owned by Patrick Harte, since deceased, was sold at the instance of the Land Commission by public auction on 16th October, 1908, the Commissioners having been unable to recover by the ordinary method of legal process the arrears of a land purchase annuity due out of the holding. There is no record that Charles Harte made any proposal whatever to pay the arrears due out of the holding, nor does it appear that he made any bid at the auction with a view to purchase it. The holding was sold to the highest bidder for £80 together with auctioneer's fees. The funds which remained over after meeting the debt due to the Land Commission were distributed amongst the incumbrancers so far as there was money available. The Commissioners do not propose to take any further action in the matter.
§ Mr. SCANLANasked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been directed to the request of the tenants in Ardnaree, and districts adjacent, for the purchase by the Congested Districts Board of the Saunders, Knox-Gore, Perry-Knox-Gore, Thompson, Palmer, Lewis, Jones, and Verschoyle estates, situated near Ballina; whether the Board are prepared to purchase the said estates; if he will state what progress has already been made in this matter; and whether, in vie w of threatened evictions, he will urge the Board to take immediate action?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe estates of Saunders, Knox-Gore, Perry-Knox-Gore, and W. H. Jones have been offered to the Congested Districts Board, and steps are 1967W being taken for their valuation. The Board are in communication with Captain Wade-Thomson as to the sale of his estate, and they have agreed to make offers for the estates of the late Sir Roger Palmer and R. J. Verschoyle. In the case of the representatives of Lewis the owners have expressed their willingness to sell the estate, but the maps and other documents have not yet been lodged.
§ Mr. O'SHAUGHNESSYasked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners recognise James Fitzgerald, of Ballygran, in the county of Limerick, as the representative of his uncle, Michael Hartnett, deceased, and who a short time previous to his death was reinstated by them in a holding from which he was previously evicted?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have appointed Jeremiah Fitzgerald limited administrator of Michael Hartnett, deceased, under Section 69 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, as amended by Section 35 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, for the purposes of sale of the lands for the purchase of which an undertaking was signed by Hartnett.