CULVERDEN ESTATE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 8

CULVERDEN ESTATE.

CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION. FURTHER EVIDENCE. fBY TELEGBArn.—PRESS . ASSOCIATIOIt.) . , Christchiirch, March -18.,, The Compensation Court sat again to-day to hear further evidence- in regard to, the claim for compensation for Cutverden Esta'to, compulsoi'ily acquired/by the Crown under tho' Lands for Settlement Act, The evidence on bohalf of tho Crown was continued. ' James Stevenson, farmer, of Flaxton, stated that -in 'his • opinion the. estate was. purely pastoral or sheep country; was considerable flat area, but', the, land was very variable.; What soil .there was was of a very light ' nature. There; seemed to' be an absence of body in it. Thci flats would not: crop woll unless a lot of fertiliser was applied. The only, good grass he saw, .was in gullies 'or.on swampy ground...'He did not think that it would be. profitable to crop the estate, and cropping' would bo. very disastrous to grasses. , It.';jfi»s ja : question whother the present carrying'., capacity could be profitably increased,' arid .under, present conditions it would be dangerous tb increase it'. : -.'. Tho' condition of • tho stock and the quality of the' wool, clip bore evidence-.of careful and capable management .of the estate. Thero was at present.,a check, in tho demand for • light land. His «valuation of tho estate, including the linlcased portion of the township, was £98,060.

Mr. Findlay: What do you think of the estate as a block for 'settlement?

Witness: The' land is not of the best character to, acquire, for small settlements'. The only thing in'its favour ' is ' having a railway in the centre.' 1

John G. A. Ruddenklau, farmer, of Fornsidq, agreed with other -witnesses for the Crown in their description of, the estate generally and tho grass.es.' 'It would bo an expensive undertaking .to change' the pastures, which werc'the' best for the estate. The manager 'appeared-to bo keeping tho sheep, in gS'od condition, and getting the best results. He valued the block, at £9=1,777 45., the unoccupied town lands at £600, and the buildings at £2510,' making a-'total-of '£97,837 -Is. ;■ .

' To, Mr. Russell: The recent fall in wool had affected the value'o^Ciilverden.

'John Allen, sheep farmer, Waikari, considered that the present, use" to ' Which' the estate was .put-was the'best r possible. The grass, put' in on the.'estate was'the' niost .profitablo - for, that : country*■ He .considered that: the'stocking of- the'-.estate:-had been done: judiciously. The, prices. of light , land had boon decidedly arrested latoly. • 1 His valuation of the estate was: £102,127 IGs;, with improvements; and-the-unleased portion of the township lands would 'bo \ valued at £600. :.r . "' . ■

To Mr. Stringer : Witness was a meniber of tho Land Board,. but he had. not' : taken an activo part in securing the acquisition of the estato. He: had 1 accompanied .the Minister: for Lands over the estate, and had written to the papers advocating that: the , estate should',be cut lip into smaller '• blocks 'than: was originally proposed." .-': - •- .• ■ ■ .To' .Mr: • Findlay:' His"; idea' was to cut ■ tho estate up .into.; smaller,' holdings, so. .that a certain' class of s'ettler .could getrsome land arid a-, homo,; arid, ,if necessary, go out and .work elsewhere.''' -■ ■ •/;.. ■ ■ v George King, farmer,"of Nelson, said, he had put a value on the . block according to its 'marketable Value last year.': His* valuation was £102,275' 155., including 'tho.;' -unleased portion .of the; township'; sections. 1 ■::H.-Hertslctt, .'farmer,', of Waiiiiate, thought: that the'result of., the. management spoke for itself.' Tho ,flock: was '/a notable 'one,- and r prioe3'were usually 7 th6;top; of the .market. In his opinion, '..the decrease ".'in' the st ocking' duri n'g 'the' :1 ast, few. years ■ was - due to .the./dry • seasons'■ experienced; • . valued the estate; at ..'£98,406, . excluding .buildings and township lands; ! • This closed the caso.for the Crown. ' . Mr. .Stringer; said; that'■'■'an agreement -bad been como to m'.i^^ , '^ i t^-.l^srfJ l pofy6n Crown': agreeing -to pay- £2216. He- pointed out that the trustees.had:.given sections for- a church' and. School, and: that the';,sections, had riot' transferfedr''' No. claim was made, in respect to them,: but tho trustees would like an assurance; that:,the ' Crown would devote them to the purposes for which they were given. ; . ; ' Mr. Findlay said that no agreement had boon come to', but he had offered no evidence regarding leased-township lands.;. He,could give, no'undertaking regarding thp; school and church' sections. ■; ' v . .

: .pis Honour said that he would allow an amondment of the claim, if nccessary, as :Mr;-' Findlay could-- not . give : .-aii -undertaking. :...'■■■ :;;

, Mr., Stringer: I think it.may'safely be,left to the Minister;

A- Chamber.' sittihg;was v heid in the_ afternoon, and, seyeral matters 'connected; with the acquisition were ' discussed. ■It was stated that -the' claimants • would give possession' on tho 30th inst;, .: and- it '.was"*'arrangcd that they should, not be liable: for- land, tax after that date. ■ An undertaking was given, by Mr.. Findlay that the proclamation would not bo issued l until the lessees of the part of the land- taken, or.othor persons interested, had had an' opportunity 'to put, in their claims. Messrs.. Stringer, and.Findlay-''were' requested to forward a memorandum to His Honour embodying- their agreements on these points. Tho -, Court was adjourned until-Monday :riext; .. His Honour remarked-' that the decision might be ready: by .that'.time, ;: