§ Mr. SHEEHANasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners caused any special inspection to be made of the holding of Timothy Crawley on the Wallis-Adams estate, near Millstreet, county Cork; whether a purchase price was put upon the farm as a result of this inspection; if so, what was the amount and was the figure communicated to the tenant; and whether the holdings have been yet vested in the tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, at prices agreed on between the parties. The holdings have not yet been vested in the purchasing tenants. Craw-
2674Wley is a judicial tenant, and the Estates Commissioners have no power to fix a price in his case.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked if any steps have recently been taken to acquire the untenanted lands on the Smith estate, at Ballymanty, Bruff, county Limerick; and, if so, with what result?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners are informed that the owner is not willing to negotiate for the sale of these
lands to them under the voluntary provisions of the Land Purchase Acts. The question of acquiring the lands compulsorily has not yet been considered by the Commissioners.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked if the unteuanted land on the Miss Croker and Lady Dwyer estate at Ballybricken, county Limerick, and at Kyle, county Limerick, has been purchased; is there fifteen acres Irish at Kyle, Bruff, among the lands purchased; if so, will steps be taken to see that these lands will not be handed over to the present occupier, as he has the lands only from year to year; and, in view of the representations which from time to time have been made by the local public bodies, including the county council, the rural council, the United Irish League executive, and the labour executive, with regard 2675W to the handing over of those fifteen acres to the evicted tenant, John Raleigh, will their request be acceded to, and prevent any outbreak of trouble which will take place should any other person come by those lands?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the vendors, who have included in the proceedings for sale some twenty-six acres of untenanted land on the townland of Kyle, which they offer with other untenanted land for sale to the Estates Commissioners. This estate has not yet been reached in order of priority, and the Commissioners are not in a position to make any allotment of the land until acquired.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked if the Estates Commissioners will communicate with the representatives of the late Mr. Thomas Gubbins, of Dunkeille, Cork, with a view to the purchase of the untenanted land at Bottonistown, Knockaney, county Limerick, for distribution among the small holders and labourers in the district?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Estates Commissioners instituted proceedings for the compulsory acquisition of some 350 acres of the lands of Bottomstown, on the estate of J. H. Gubbins, county Limerick, under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and the owner filed objections under the Act, on consideration of which the Commissioners did not proceed further in the matter. If the owner wishes to sell the lands to the Commissioners under the voluntary provisions of the Land Purchase Acts he should institute proceedings for sale in the prescribed manner.
§ Mr. LUNDONasked when the purchase, agreements were lodged in the estate of Colonel John M. Low, county Limerick, Record No. 3865; has the owner applied for stock or cash; is there any dispute as to title, etc.; what is the cause of delay in having vesting orders issued; and, in view of the fact that estates in the same neighbourhood which were purchased at a later date than the above-mentioned have been dealt with, will steps be taken to carry out the agreements entered into and thus give the tenants the same benefit as that afforded to their neighbours?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThis estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants. The agreements signed by the tenants for the purchase of their holdings were lodged with the Com-2676W missioners in May, 1906. The estate is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash) and will be dealt with in order of priority. The Estates Commissioners anticipate that it will be reached in its turn during the financial year beginning 1st April next.
§ Mr. HAZLETONasked whether the Congested Districts Board has made an offer to Mr. T. H. B. Ruttledge, Bloomfield, Hollymount, county Mayo, for the sale of his Barbersfort estate, near Tuam, county Galway; and, if so, what has been the result of the negotiations?
§ Mr BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for this estate.
§ Mr. VINCENT KENNEDYasked what area of untenanted land the Estates Commissioners have purchased, or arranged to purchase, in county Cavan; who are the owners; what are the prices paid; and the number of acres purchased from each owner?
§ Mr. BIRRELLUp to the 31st March the Estates Commissioners acquired some 2,680 acres of untenanted land in the county Cavan and negotiations are pending for the purchose of a further area of some 475 acres. Particulars of the lands purchased are given when resold in the Monthly Returns presented to Parliament, and it would be contrary to the Commissioners' practice to give the particulars asked for in regard to lands which are still the subject of negotiation.