LAND VALUATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 206, 1 September 1898, Page 5

LAND VALUATION.

INCREASE OF SIXTEEN MILLIONS,

GREATEST ADVANCE IN THE

NORTH ISLAND,

NEW ZEALAND TOTAL—£ 138,591^347

WELLINGTON, August 25,

The report; of the Government Valuation of Land Department, laid, on the table to-day, shows that the present valuation, of £138,591,347 is an increase of £16,366,318 compared with the assessments made in 1891.

The increase in the South Island has not been in the same proportion as in the North. This is accounted for by, the great speed of settlement within the Wellington and TaranaM districts, and by severe droughts experienced in portions of the South Island. With regard to incidents of valuation it is stated that tine; number of objections was no greater than in former years, but more difficulty was' experienced in holding sittings of: the Assessment Courts, owing to engagements of magistrate preventing a, sequence of sittings such as were obtainable when objections, were heard before reviewers. Some idea of the work involved may be gathered from the fact that it has been necessary to make 231,965 separate valuations, of which 119,258 were in the North Island, and 112,707 in the South Island. These represent an increase of 23,506 since' the 1891 assess-

ment. Although the cost of the general valuation has been very heavy it is certain that a long period will elapse before it becomes necessary to make atidther; indeed there will be no necessity at all for another general valuation if an attempt to keep the present one up to date is successful. - The Valuer-General, Mr McGowan, further says that without doubt errors of judgment have been committed by some valuers, and some instances careless work have occurred, but it can scarcely, be expected that the valuation of the colony could be made without the necessity arising for some corrections. It is, however, part of the present system that assessments can be adjusted at any time if owners make^ .application for 'revaluation, or if the Valuer-General is of opinion that the valuation, on the roll is incorrect. It is hard to believe that a valuer has been always wrong, and an owner always right, seeing that it is in the interest of every valuer to earn a reputation for making fair valuations. He expresses the opinion that a little' more time ought to be given' before judgment is passed either before or against the valuation. . .'