§ Mr. REDDYasked the Chief Secretary whether the Mullakerawn bog on the O'Hara Trench estate, near Banagher, King's County, has been purchased or acquired by the Estates Commissioners; and, if not, whether, seeing that there are several tenants on the estate in need of turbary, steps will be taken by the Estates Commissioners to acquire it for the purpose of distribution among the tenants?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The townland of Mullakerawn bog was not included in the lands on the O'Hara Trench estate which were sold to the Estates Commissioners, and which have all since been allotted.
§ Mr. JOHN WALSHasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state on what grounds have the Estates Commissioners refused to give a plot of land to Mrs. Catherine Kingston, of Drimoleague, county Cork, in lieu of the farm from which her late husband, John Kingston, was evicted from in the town-land of Knockeenbee, lower electoral division of Gurranes, in the Skibbereen Union?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe farm at one time occupied by Mrs. Kingston is in the occupation of another tenant with whom the 1827W Estates Commissioners have no power to interfere, and they have no land in the locality which they could allot to Mrs. Kingston, who will not take a farm elsewhere.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the sale of the estate of Mr. Francis J. McCarthy, Gowlanes, Caherdaniel, was effected and agreements signed on 6th March, 1905; can he state whether the purchase money has yet been paid, and, if not, when it will be paid; when will the payment of annuities at 3¼ per cent. come into force; and whether the tenants on this estate are entitled to Grants and loans for the improvement of their houses as on the neighbouring estates?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe tenants on this estate entered into direct sale agreements with the owner under the Trish Land Act, 1903, but the Estates Commissioners considered that this was an estate which should be sold to them, and the owner agreed. The estate has been vested in the Commissioners, who have paid the owner the purchase money, and an inspector will visit the lands at an early date with a view to reporting as to improvements to be effected before the lands are vested in the purchasing tenants.
§ Mr. BOLANDasked whether any, and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board or the landlord to sell to the tenants of the Quill estate, of which Mr. Drummond is the head landlord, near Beaufort?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Congested Districts Board have communicated with the agent for this property, but the estate has not, so far, been offered for sale through them.