PROPERTY SALES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 56, 7 March 1944, Page 6

PROPERTY SALES

JUDGMENTS GIVEN

TWO AUCKLAND APPEALS

Judgment of the Land Sales Court has been given on two appeals against decisions of Land Sales Committees in Auckland. In one appeal, which was against a decision given by the Auckland Urban Land Sales Committee, the basic value of the property was raised by the Court, and the other appeal was dismissed. One appeal related to the refusal of the Auckland Urban Land Sales Committee to consent to the sale of a property situated at Grey Lynn, on the grounds that the consideration was in excess of the basic value fixed by the committee at £1150. The Court -preferred and accepted the evidence of the Crown witness in the matter of the valuations, because of his intimate knowledge of the topics concerned, but stated in the iudgment that during the hearing of the appeal it was disclosed that the value of the house had been added to by the incorporation in it of a garage. This sum was not brought to the attention of the committee, and so was not taken into consideration. The additional sum was allowed by the Court, which fixed its basic "value at £1170.

"It is difficult to understand how any value per square foot could properly be attached to such a building as this," stated the judgment of the Court on an appeal against the decision of the North Auckland Land Sales Committee relating to the sale of a properly at Swanson, containing a wood and brick dwelling and outbuildings. The committee, on January 17, had refused consent to the sale on the grounds that the consideration exceeded the basic value of £ 190 as fixed by the committee.

The Court, in giving judgment, stated that by common consent of most of the witnesses, the property involved was as to the house ruinous, and as to the land was in need of restoration and the provision of an adequate water supply.

The proposed sale price was £650, a private valuation being £676 1/. The Court said that much of the evidence showed that the proposed price was excessive and that the committee's decision to approve at £490 was generous. The committee dismissed the appeal, and did not, in view of the fact that the rights between the parties might be involved, and because of other considerations, agree to a suggestion that the sale be approved at the committee's price.