HIGH-POWER LINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 8

HIGH-POWER LINE.

OVER PANMURE PROPERTY. OWNER'S CLAIM. TOTAL OF £3820 INVOLVED. The construction of Arapuni's highpower transmission line over a property at Panmure gave rise to a claim for compeneation totalling brought by James Donald, wool broker, of Auckland, in the Supreme Court to-day against the Public Works Department. The hearing was before Mr. Justice Ostler, sitting with two assessors, Mr. John Alexander, for the Crown, and Mr. J. B.' Paterson, for the plaintiff; as a compensation court. Mr. L. P. Leary was counsel for the plaintiff and Mr. V. R. Meredith for the Department. The claim was brought under the Public Works Act, on account of loss alleged to be due to the construction Gf electric transmission linee across a property near the Tamaki River. It included £1200 for 4 acres ?> roods 8 perches of land taken by the Department, valued at £250 an acre; £1900 for diminution in the value of over 45 acres of land, due to the existence of the transmission lines; and £720 for the injurious effects on the residue of land in plaintiff's subdivisional scheme through the loss of the -part taken. Trend of Settlement. Fifty acres, the area purchased by the plaintiff at Panmure in 1924, was developed for resale as sections, said Mr. Leary. There were 200 sections in all, and 25 of them were on the route taken by the power line. At the time the plaintiff bought Iris property, late in 1926, subdivisional schemes were active and sections were selling well. That the Railway Department was of opinion the district was destined for- closer settlement was sufficiently indicated, he contended, by the fact that four or five new railway stations were dotted along the route of the deviation railway. Survey operations were complete and the roading was on the point of being commenced, Mr. Leary continued, when the plaintiff heard the disquieting rumour that the Government might construct the Arapuni power line across the property. That put an end to the subdivisional scheme on the part of the property to be traversed by the power line. "The attractive sections, with the best vieive, sheltered from the southerly winds, were gone," eaid Mr. Leary. He added that a central feature of the subdivisional plan, in the form of a circus, had to be sacrificed. Reductions in Price. Describing the land taken as the "eye" of the subdivision, Mr. Leary contended the sections would have been equally as desirable as some that had sold in the locality as high as £600 each. The balance of the subdivision would be less attractive because of the defective'layout, and a poorer type of purchaser would result.

After explaining the effects that a high-power transmission line had upon the public mind, Mr. Leary asserted that a reduction of £50 in the price of each section would be necessary to induce anyone to take up residence on the plaintiff's subdivieion.

The hearing was adjourned until this afternoon to enable his Honor and the assessors to make a visit of inspection of the property.