PROPRTY VALUATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 161, 10 July 1922, Page 2

PROPRTY VALUATIONS.

«OME POINTED QUESTIONS, j '■How many houses have gone up durin" the past three years within half a mile radius of my property?' , the town clerk was asked by Mr. Verran in the Birkenhead Assessment Court this morning. "Only one." replied that official. "And there's been onp fire;" supplemented Mr. Verran, to the merriment of the Court. "Would you place this property under offer? - ' queried Mr. A. M. Gould of a witness, who was appearing for the Borough Council. The witness was Mr. A. G. .larrett, who was objecting to the dual values of the department (£3O per acre) and the Council ( £fiO). "Who to?" promptly asked Mr. .larrett. Mr. Gould: ''To the Borough Council." l,lr. Jarrett: "The Borough Council has no money!' , (Laughter.) Mr. Gould: "Well, to mc then." Witness (meditatively): "I would first have to inquire as to your financial position!" ""You're pretty good at fencing," remarked the solicitor. Eventually the landowner said he had no intention of selling until he brought his plans to fruition by extending the wharf at Island Bay, Birkdale. and effecting other improvements. "How much per acre would you want then ?" wae the next inquiry. "I would quote per foot then." (Laughter.) . After evidence the Valuation Department's assessment of £30 per was raised to £50 per acre. "How doee Birkenhead compare witli other districts in Auckland regarding buildings and sub-divisions V wae a question put to a member of the staff of the Valuation Department. He replied that there were f?wer buildings being erected j and sub-divisions of property than in any j other part. There were 1176 sections I under five acres, and only 502 ware built i upon. In answer to Mr. Gould, who ap--1 r-eared for the council, witness said that '■■ he did not know the capital value, j unimproved value or population of Birk- : enhead, but he was aware it waa one of ' thfi largest boroughs in New Zealand. Mr. Gould remarked that the Colonial Sugar Company's works being situated' right in the middle of the borough forced it to become somewhat scattered. In reply to Mr. V. G. Day. S.M.. who presided, Mr. Coutts, who appeared for the Valuation Department, said that if a property was sold at a much higher value than assessed by the department it could not be altered on the valuation roll .either by the department or the local bod}'. The Magistrate: "They I used to be able to." Mr. Coutts: "Yes. but that was abolished some time ago.*