LAND TAKEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 219, 16 September 1938, Page 10

LAND TAKEN.

UNWILLING SELLER. PITT STREET SECTION. FIRE STATION SITS CASE. A claim of £1]..">00 by Joseph Zambueca (Mr. V. R. Meredith) as against an offer of half that amoiint in coinpensation for a quarter acre section taken under the Public Works Act by the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board as jwi-t of a new fire brigade site'was heard before Mr. Justice Fair, with the Hon. J. Alexander. M.L.1'.,, and Mr. W. H. Limn as assessors, in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon and to-day. Mr. A. K. Xorth represented the Fire Board.

The property was just under a quarter of an acre in area, said Mr. Meredith and was looked on by Mr Zauibuwa as an investment for his family. He. <lid not appreciate the powers of'the Public Works Act. and bitterly resented the taking of the property. On it at the time when the land was taken were two well-built shops which were re-nlarlv occupied, and there was a ejxu-e once occupied by bouses which had been demolished in preparation for a buildinscheme This s,«ee last year was let" while the building scheme was in suspense pending bettfr economic condition* for storage at £4 per wek. Counsel stressed, as features of the property, the level nature of the land and proximity to the Karangahape Road «hopp ng area. The frontage of »sft sfn. he ««id wa s Ta i, lP(l at £80 f j. the building* at £2000. Evidence on the lines indicated bv counsel was jrhen by claimant's son. Charles /ambucca, and by John Park, architect. The former said the property 1020 for £3725. and Mr. Park said the bu.ld.ng plan, which was suspended in h>33. was for putting up on the vacant section four shops and twelve flats The cost of that Imilding at the time would have been just on £13.000; at the y^nn nt time lt mi « ht run to £2000 or £3000 more.

Ernest <;. Potter, land valuer, valued the property at £80 per foot frontage and Percy James (rump valued the land at £70 a foot frontage, or £75r,0 A. F. Frater. land valuer, also valued the land at £80 a foot frontage, which he worked out at £7033. A. G Grinter contractor, valued the shoos on the property as they stood at £1.108. C. P. Hine estimated the value of the shops at £1500. ' This concluded claimants case. Giving evidence for the respondent board D. B. Patterson, architect, valued the buildings on the land at £1140. He said that under the city regulations a* to two-etorey flat* there" would be a difficulty in providing a block of flats as proposed by the claimant. P. F. Xotley. valuer for the Auckland City Council, said that for rating j»urpo*e* he valued the property in question at £42 per foot frontage, and the buildings at £1230. The case is proceeding.