Ellesmere County Valuation Higher

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31576, 13 January 1968, Page 14

Ellesmere County Valuation Higher

The capital value of Ellesmere County has been increased to $55,363,010 under a five-yearly revaluation just completed by the Valuation Department. The Christchurch branch manager of the department (Mr V. R. Aitken) said yesterday that the unimproved value of the county was now $29,810,470, and the value of improvements $25,552,540. Notices of the new valuations had been sent to property owners.

The county comprises 3300 separate properties, extending from Te Plrita to Motukarara and including the townships of Lincoln, Leeston and Southbridge.' The county was formed by the amalgamation of the former Springs and Ellesmere counties, and a riding of the old Selwyn county.

The county was last revalued in March, 1963. The capital value at March, 1967 on the 1963 basis was $34,447,830, made up of $16,209,400 in unimproved value, and $18,238,430 worth of improvements.

“A large part of the county consists of first-class cropping land which, together with its closer proximity to Christchurch, allows a flexibility of land use which is much wider than in many other parts of Canterbury,” said Mr J. R. Kingston, the rural district valuer, who has been in charge of the farm lands revaluation. “There has been considerable development over much of the county since the 1963 revaluation by way of improved pastures, fencing, new houses, farm buildings and the like,” he said. “Amenities have been improved, with considerable sealing and upgrading of roads, and the provision of sewerage and water in some townships. Many of the wetter areas have been improved by more and better land drainage. “Stock numbers have increased, the Department of Agriculture figures showing sheep up from 356,580 in 1962 to 429,027 in 1966, and beef cattle nearly doubled from 3605 to 7147. “The area in cash crop, particularly wheat and barley, has shown a steady increase, and the widening market fol freezer peas has led to an increase in these crops.”

Mr Kingston said that although there was a reduction in the volume of sales of farm land in 1967 compared with the previous two years, the level had remained substan tially the same, with a strong demand for most classes of farm land.

The district urban valuer, Mr A P. Faulls, and his staff, valued the townships of Lees ton, Lincoln and Southbridge “While there has been no outstanding progress over the five years at Leeston and Southbridge, they are well maintained as stable, tidy, rural townships,” said Mi Faulls. “The market for all but the poorest type of residential properties has remained sound. “There is not an extensive unsatisfied demand for sections at Lincoln, but it has been enough to create a considerable increase in prices for building sites over the last five years. The general level of values at Lincoln has also shown some increase.”

The district valuers will be at the Lincoln Community Centre on February 6, and at the Leeston Community Centre on February 7 to discuss the revaluations with property owners.

Mr Kingston will be at the Dunsandel Hall on February 6, and in the week beginning January 22, both valuers will be available at the department’s office in the A.A.C. building. It is best to make an appointment in this case. The revaluation of Geraldine Borough should be completed by the beginning of March, and new valuations for the Levels and Westland counties should be ready before the middle of April.