RATES ON NATIVE LAND,

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 76, 28 March 1908, Page 7

RATES ON NATIVE LAND,

RAGLAN COUNTY COUNCIL AND OCCUPIERS OF TE AKAU.

A rather important case was decided at the Magistrate's Court at Ngaruawahia on the 20th inst., when the Raglan Council sued Messrs. J. and E. Allen, J. E. Makgill, T. Middleton and G. W. Basley for f 151 3/8, for rates due on 20,000 acres of Te Akau No. 3B and No. 2 North blocks, for, which the defendants duly appeared on the valuation roll as occupiers."~The S.M., Mr. H. W. Northcroft, occupied the Bench, and Mr. A. E. Skelton, of Messrs. Wynyard and Purchas, appeared for the Council, while Mr. McKnight represented the defendants.

Mr. McKnight wished to call evidence showing that the defendants were wrongfully placed on tbe valuation roll, as they had no leases and only held the land by a tenure of grazing right; but Mr. Skelton argued that tbe defendants were estopped from opening up this matter, as thej T had not exercised their rights before the Revision Court at the proper time, and had actually requested the Valuation Department to place their names on the roll as occupiers.

These facts were admitted by the defendants, and the S.M. ruled that they were estopped from going into this line of defence.

Judgment was given for the plaintiff Council for £151 3/S, and £12 14/ costs.