V 76 MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE Mr Patrick flood, interest that he had in the farm in 1837?— The man could not have less than - 50/. or 60/. a year in this farm; he has two very excellent dwelling- houses upon S- May 1838. ins farm and out- offices, built of lime and stone, and sand. 8538 What stock had he ?— Four cows and a horse at the time I was there. 8539! Any young cattle ?— I did not take down any stock of that kind; I was in both the dwelling- houses. . 8540. Did he occupy both houses himself.-— He occupied both himself; he was after building a new house, which he was going to remove to, and to carry on trade in the other. 8541. Had he a good range of farm- houses ?— Very excellent. 8542. What did they consist of?— There were three very excellent out- offices, stables and barn: the surveyor measured them, and took a map of them. 8543. Whose tenant is lie?— A tenant of Lord Southwell. 8544. Mr. Hogg.] When was this man put on the register ?— I think it was in 1832. 8545. When did he take his land?— I have not the date of his lease. 8546. Is it an old letting ?— No, he held under a middle landlord, and the land came into the hands of the landlord, Lord Southwell. 8547. Is it bad land ?— No ; very good land. 8548. And the recent letting is at 1/. an acre?— It was in 1825 when those lands were leased. 8549. Why was he struck off by the Committee in 183/ ?— For insufficiency of value as it was supposed. 8550. Is that the same rent that he paid to the middle man ?—' No ; the man paid two guineas an acre before he got a lease from the head landlord, and for another farm adjoining of 17 acres, he paid two guineas an acre. 8551. Mr. Curry.] When that lease dropped he got a lease from his head landlord at 11/. 10 s. a year ?— Yes, at 1 /. an acre ; lie has made great improve- ments upon the land since. 85,52. Chairman.] With reference to Tuite, were there not Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Brock examined as to what occurred at the registry; was not Mr. Brock examined as to the value of the house, and Peter Daly upon the other side ?— Yes. 8553. Did the Committee believe Peter Daly ?— No ; if they struck off the vote of course they did not. 8,554. Who is Peter Daly ?— A farmer that holds a good deal of land. 8555. Was his evidence credited generally by that Committee ?— It appears not by this book; but I say that Tuite had as good a 10 /. freehold as any in the county. 85.56. Mr. Curry.] What was the name of the witness against him?— Brock. 8557. Has he a farm ?— Yes ; he is a half- pay officer in the militia. 8558. Mr. Hogg.] What is the general rate at which the neighbouring land near to this is let per acre ?— From two guineas up to 3 /. an acre. 8.550- Do you mean the neighbouring land of the same value, and under the same landlord ?— The same landlord has let it all at the same rent; he made leases to those tenants at about half the rent that they paid before; he is one of the best landlords in the county of Longford. 8560. Chairman.] How much is the land worth ?— It is worth two guineas an acre. 8561. Do you mean to say that Lord Southwell is letting the property under its value ?— Most decidedly; he is making leases still considerably under the value. 8562. As much as 100 per cent, under the value ?— I do not say that he is letting now as much as 100 per cent, under the value ; but I say now, takin the improvements upon this farm since 1825, it is as much as 100 per cent. S563. Mr. Hogg.] Did not land let very low in 1825?— It did. 8564. Was not that a period of peculiar depression?— It was. 8565. Was not 1 /. an acre about the value in 1825 ?— Not 1 /. an acre ; another landlord would have charged a guinea and a half. 8566. When you are talking of its being worth 2 /. an acre, or a guinea and a halt, you are speaking of the present value ?— I say that he would get two guineas an acre for the same land. 8567. Mr. Beamish.] In 1825 would another landlord setting that have got more o