§ Mr. PATRICK MEEHANasked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that 2261W William Dunne was evicted from a farm of eighty acres at Milltown, Queen's County; that his daughter and only surviving child, Mary Dunne, wife of Daniel Cooke, Maryborough, applied on the 6th March last to the landlord, Mr. John Edge, of Milltown, in whose occupation the land remained since Dunne was evicted, to be reinstated in her father's farm; whether he is aware that on the 16th March last a policeman called on Mrs. Cooke and questioned her as to having written to Mr. Edge about her father's farm; whether he will say on whose authority the policeman acted on visiting Mrs. Cooke, questioning her on private matters in connection with her family history, and asking her at whose instigation she sent the letter and who wrote it for her; and whether it is intended, where evicted tenants make respectful application to the landlord, that the police are to be at the disposal of the landlord with a view of intimidating the representative of the evicted tenant?
§ Mr. BIRRELLWilliam Dunne held a farm of eighty acres at Milltown, Queen's County, from which he was evicted by the landlord about the year 1846 for non-payment of rent, The land was purchased six years ago by Mr. Edge, whose family had been tenants since Dunne's eviction. On 7th March last a letter was received by Mr. Edge from Mrs. Cooke, the daughter of William Dunne, demanding the surrender of the farm. The landlord took no notice of the letter, but it was given to the police by his housekeeper. Owing to the nature of the letter it was the duty of the police to make all possible inquiries, but there was no desire or attempt on their part to intimidate Mrs. Cooke.
§ Mr. MEAGHERasked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay in reinstating the representatives of William Westerman, who was evicted from a holding on the Davis estate, Thomastown, county Kilkenny; is he aware that Westerman was asked by the late Inspector Sydney G. Smith if he would accept an alternative holding on the Lyster estate, which he consented to do, but did not succeed in being reinstated; and, in view of the fact that the holding from which he was evicted is supposed to be still derelict, he will prevail on the Estates Commissioners to take steps to acquire it so as to enable Westerman's family to be restored to their former holding?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners have decided to take no action in2262W this matter. They are not aware that Westerman was asked to accept a holding on the Lyster estate, and they see no reason to alter the decision already arrived at.