§ Mr. DANIEL BOYLEasked the Chief Secretary what steps have been taken by 1394W the Congested Districts Board to acquire the following properties situate in the Kilcummin and Lacken districts of North Mayo, namely, the May Fishery Company's, the Little estate, Kirkwood's, M'Cormick's (Foghill), Phibb's, Knox's, Mrs. Clarke's (Palmer), and Bourke's; will he say when these properties were offered to the Board; when the surveys and valuations were completed, and on what dates offers for purchase have been made by the Board to the owners; and to what cause the delay in the purchase is due?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe offers of the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of the estates of the May Fishery Company, Mrs. S. Little, Colonel C. II. C. Knox, and Mrs. L. Clarke, have been accepted by the owners, but their offer for the purchase of the estate of Miss Henrietta Phibbs has not yet been accepted The Board have decided to make an offer for the purchase of the estate of W. H. M. Kirkwood, and it will be issued as soon as practicable. The estate of J. H. M. Kirkwood has been offered for sale to the Board, and a decision will be arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable. The necessary documents are being prepared with a view to offering the estate of Mr. S. M'Cormick for sale through the Board, and when received the estate will be inspected and a decision arrived at regarding its purchase. The agent for the estate of Mr. B. W. Bourke informed the Board some time ago that the owner was not then in a position to enter into negotiations for sale of his estate.
§ Mr. DORISasked whether Mr. Patrick O'Dowd, of Fallduff Lodge, county Mayo, has yet lodged the maps and other necessary papers with the Congested Districts Board, with a view to the sale of his estate through the Board; and when the sale is likely to be completed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe maps and some of the documents necessary for a preliminary inspection to be made of this property have been lodged with the Congested Districts Board, but some further information asked for by them is awaited, on receipt of which the estate will be inspected and a decision arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable. The Board cannot say when it is likely that the sale of the property will be completed.
§ Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGHasked what are the amounts in money and stock still 1395W unpaid to vendors of land under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and can an approximate estimate be given of when the payments to them will be complete; and what is the total of the purchase money paid and payable in respect of voluntary sales made under the Purchase of Land Act, 1909, from its coming into operation down to the last available date?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe pending sales under the Irish Land Act, 1903, in respect of which the advances have not yet been made amount to £32,000,000. Of this sum vendors have elected under the Act of 1909 to accept payment as regards £5,000,000 in half cash, half stock (2|), and as regards £850,000 in all stock (2f per cent.), and as regards the balance the vendors are awaiting payment in cash according as the estates are reached in order of priority. The Estates Commissioners anticipate that they will be able to deal with the cases at present on the half-stock half-cash register and the all stock register by the end of the coming financial year. They are not, however, in a position at present to state when the cases for payment in all cash may be disposed of as this depends not only on the character of the estates and such questions as to title and other matters that may arise, but also on the amount of cash which may be available in each year for the purposes of land purchase, and on the number of vendors of these estates who on or before the 1st April next or in the subsequent years may elect under Section 3 (2) of the Act of 1909 to accept payment either partly or wholly in stock. The total advances in respect of voluntary sales under the Act of 1909 to date amount to £2,016,844, and the purchase money of lands pending under that Act but not advanced (including lands for the purchase of which the Congested Districts Board are in negotiation) is estimated at 8½ millions.