PENROSE RIFLE RANGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1904, Page 2

PENROSE RIFLE RANGE.

The hearing of the compensation case in connsetion with the land in the Dilworth estate, at Penrose, acquired by the Government for a rifle range, was concluded at the Supreme Court on Saturday before His Honor Mr. Justice Edwards and Messrs. S. Vaile and G. Peacocke, assessors. The amount claimed is £7274. James Stichbury said that the land under dispute was offered to the City Council as an abattoir site at £1 per acre for 66 years' lease. He thought £2500 would be full compensation for taking the land for a rifle range. C. R. Vickerman, district engineer, in the Public Works Department, "said the range had been planned so as to be perfectly safe. James Da ere, of Samuel Cochrane and Son, valued tlie land at £2320. Lieut.Colonel Whyte said he did not consider there was any danger from the rifle range to people residing on the r.djoining land. A modern bullet striking a rock would go to pieces. He would not consider the range a saf,e one for the Martini-Henry bullet, but he had never known a .303 bullet strike a rock and remain whole. R. C. Carr, land agent, valued the land at £2400; J. M. Shera, land agent, valued it at £ 2680, and Wilborn Gulliver valued it at £2400. C. Aiekin. land agent, of Auckland, valued the 100 acres at £2070. and estimated the damage by severance and the rifle range at £2 per acre on the 194 acres, making the total compensation £2458. William Duncan, Government land valuer, valued the land at £2170, plus severance allowance £194, and ritle range annoyance £194, a total of £2558. To Mr Cotter, witness said it was true that his service with the Government was terminating, but it was not true that he or his friends were trying to get his retirement cancelled. His valuation of this land was made 18 months ago, Charles Robert Williamson, land agent, of Auckland, valued the estate at £23 per acre, plus £294 for severance and annoyance. Thos. Ussher, land agent of Auckland, estimated the total compensation at £ 2800. William Garrett, land tax and district valuer, estimated the fair compensation at £2670. Robert Hall was recalled, and denied Mr Stichbury's statement that the land was offered to the City Council on lease for abattoirs at £1 per acre. No price was ever mentioned. This concluded the evidence. Mr Tole did not address the Court, and Mr Cotter was content with quoting several authorities. It was understood that His Honor and the «issessors would arrange a time to visit the land.