THE LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT ACT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 117, 18 May 1892, Page 5

THE LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT ACT.

BOARD OF REVIEWERS

EDEN COUNTY.

TnE adjourned meeting of the Board of Reviewers,of Assessments for the county of Eden under the Land and Income Assessment Act, 1891, was held this morning at) the Resident Magistrate's Court, HighBtreet. The Board of Reviewers were: Messrs W. J. Courtney (Chairman), D. A. Tole, and G. Johnstono. Mr John Bancroft, of the Industrial Building Society, waited on the Board, aud complained of the vague notices of tha sitting of the Courb that had appeared ia the advertisements published in the daily papere. Many peoplo had no idea that, Mount Eden, Eden Terrace, and other districts near the city were meant to ba adjudicated on as the Eden County. He asked thab the Board of Reviewers make a recommendation to the Commissioner of Taxe3 to hold a re-sitting of the Eden County. Mr Courtney stated that ample notice for future sittings of the Board would now be made, as they had received authority to that effect from Wellington. Mr Thorno said many assessments had yet to come in, of which he had received no notice from the Commission whether the objections had been allowed or not. Mr Courtney said the Board would hold a special re-sitting of tha Eden County if the Commissioner asked them to do so. Tha Board would nob recommend it. The first matter dealt with was the valuation of the block of land in tha Rcmuera and Mount Wellington Road Boards, owned by the Bank of Australasia, anil adjourned from tha last sitting. Tho Government valuation was £6,650, the block of land being 155 acres in oxtanb. Mr H. Campbell, on behalf of the objectors, said the valuation was excessive, and Messrs Vaile and Ewington had given evidence to that effect. Tho hearing was adjourned to allow Mr Cheesemau to bring evidence to maintain his value. Mr Cheesoman said that sinca last Wodnosday he had communicated with tho Commissioner ab Wellington, and had received a reply that he was to call no evidence besides his own. With tha aid of professional assistance he had gone over the ground and re-valued the whole of the block. His valuation of the land was £6,650 —improvements £730, and the unimproved value £5,960. Mr Ewington contended that bis first valuation of the land at £5,000 was a fair and equitable one, and a lottor was read from Mr Vaile reasserting his valuation of the block at £4,750. Both gentlemen had visited the ground since the last sitting of tha Board. Mr Cheeseman stated thab six years ago the property was valued ab £^,690, and there was no appeal. He had boon told that it would only take £660 to drain the so-called swamp on the land. Mr Campbell, Baid the Bank would gladly sell the property for £5,000. Tho Board finally deckled to reduce tha total valuation to £5,000. Mr Campbell suggested that the valuation of the 45 acres in the Mount Wellington district be £1,800, and tho 113 acres ia the Remuera district* nt £3,200. This was agreed to by Mr Cheeseman. Bank of Australasia, 6 allotments, 1 acra 2 roods, Panmure Road, valuation £192 ; reduced to £102 by consent. Mr Campbell appeared for tho objectors. James Young, near the Arch Hill Hotel, 21 acros, £1,950. Mr Duke objected to tha assessment on tho ground that the land had no frontage to the Great North Road, the frontage having been conveyed to Mra Young. Mr Ussher, the assessor, submitted that there was a frontage, and thab Mr Duke's objection waa absurd. He produced a plan showing the land had a frontage to the Great North Road of 1,789 links. Tho valuation was sustained by tha. Board. ARCH niLL. E. W. Morrison, Arch Hill, £80. Reduced to £60. Charles Spooner (for executors of the late Samuel Jaggar), Great North Road, leasehold property, £1,200. Mr Duke, on behalf cf the objector, said that anyone could take over tho lease for nothing. Ha asked that the tenancy value of £200 be struck out, and that the capital assessment, which stood at £1,000, be reduced. Mr lusher, the valuer, urged that tho Board should only deal with the leasehold interest. Thcro was no appeal from the owner against the capital value. The Board sustained tho valuation. Mr Duke said ha would take stops for the Commission to take over the property, or else take the £200 off. Mr Courtney said the Board had nothing to do with that. Margaret Gow, £210. Reduced to £200 by consent. Harriett Mann, £500. Reduced to £400. Samuel Chas. Streoter, Commercial Road, £230. Mr Duko said the-owner would sell for £150. Reduced to £200. Isabella Wakerloy, Commercial Road, £230 ; reduced to £200 by consent of valuer. James S. Wilson, Russell-streeb, £90; reduced to £80. Joseph Hanlan, Great North Road, £730. Mr Duke appeared for the objector and said the owner would take £530 lor the proporty. The valuation was sustained. The' following did nob appear:— R, Lenihan, J. Murphy, W. J. Munro, 'J,.; O'Hara, Whitakcr and Russell, John Middlebrook, A. Lepine, W. Hay, My Flynn, S. Jones. The Court then adjourned.