LAND VALUATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 213, 2 June 1908, Page 3

LAND VALUATIONS.

UNEASINESS IN TOPER HTJTT.. Considerable discontent : is said to exist in the districts around. Upper Hutt over the • land valuations. There does not appear to be ariy ; special evidence that the Hutt, people are treated any worse than the dwellers in other places, but it is said the :next Assessment Court will be attended- by a numberof objectors from the diftrict stated,' - A' Silverstream-.case was explained to a Dominion representative . recently, which seemed to. have "something in it." An estate ,of ,200 acres has been • valued; ,at £13,000, or '£65 per acre. Fifty' acres of the estato are above .the flood level of the Hutt River, 'and are-admittedly well worth £65 per acre ;-but' the 150 acres were Hooded sis years ago,, and are considered' liable to' a recurrence of the' misfortune at any timo.' They - cannot, therefore,. :be regarded as building, land, nor have they even a-prospective. building value, except in relation to the very,' very distant future, when people will be; willing to build houses on stilts, or the Hutt River will bo banked 1 in;.so that no one would buy'tho property now for'. its prospective building value.. The ,150 acres, therefore, is merelygood dairy pasture that cannot'- safely: bo cropped. The owner .regards it as such, and considers the land worth £8000. The lease •of the property, which' shortly-falls in, includes 600 acres hill country, and will 'be .re-roffered at £5.00, which 'makes the capital. l value certainly much 1 -less than £12,000. 'There seems'to be'somo-doubt'.,in- 1 ■the minds, of land owners as to the extent to which the . Government is prepared to' buy land at its own valuation, but it is stated "- that a number, of offers will be made to, the Government 'on'these .'terms! BUSH DISTRICTS A. AND P. ASSOCIATION ■ The, annual, meeting, of ..this ... •#as neld at Wopdvillo.on Friday,! Tho-cliair] - was occupied by Mr.''W; H. Gaisfbr'd, president, and about thirty -members were present. Mr. Henry Gaisford,'of Oringi, was elected president .in succession ,to his. sou. Messrs. ' R. E. '*'Beattiej 'S. Bolton, , W.' H.' Nelson, and W, H. ■ Gaisford were elected vice-presidents,'and Mr. H. Burnett treasurer.' The new committee consists df;Mesks! R.! Chariuley, J. Harding, Harris,- F. J. Kerr, J. Murray, W.'SrCaffery, D. Macdohald, ;A. ,Peebles, and M. .Whitehead, of whom Messrs. Harding, Kerr,' and Macdonald. are new blood. In/reply to; questions the secro- : . 'stated' that' the';financial membership' was about 200. :,'.'.'At : a subsequent meeting of .the comiriittee'' •Mr! J., H.; Escott was appointed Secretary, pro' temV (vice - Mr." Rowe. Fennell,' retiring), and Messrs.. Escott, . W. H. Gaisford, R. ' Beatti'e, K.. Franklinj and Jl A. Montoith : .were' 1 appointed "to endeavour to . collect the outstanding subscription's. ' : . ACmCULTURAL MUSEUM. STAGING TO BEGIN. ' • The; old Drill ,Hall,. ,which is .to., be;'the temporary abode of the .- Agricultural Museum pending the, erection of a, permanent.-agri-cultural 'building, is to be . vacated by the Defence authorities \ to-day. . It .is expected that the staging of..the. museum specimens will be begun jin. a' few days hence. The situation is very convenient to-visitors by rail and water,.'and there is.overy. hope that ' the museum may once again. become, a valu ? able, popular, and instructive institution.' : RABBITS AND CODLIN MOTH. / SETTLERS FINED. - ' - A NapierPross Association message states that five settlers \yere'fined a nominal' sum ; for failing - to eradicate co'dlin moth and other : orchard pests. '- Counsel for the'' prosecution, stated that the department .would in future ask for heavy penalties: ' For failing to take means to keep-rabbits in check,' William Hollis was fined £10.- ' ■ NEW ELECTION SYSTEM. ; , > The Hawke's Bay, A. 1 and 'P. ; Association has :inau2Urated a new rule in connection with the election of officers at its', annual meeting, by ; . which members receive voting papers prior to. the meeting,- andj' if )they wish, majr 'vjte by. post.- An innovation: of this description is likely to intensify the interest. in the elections, while at the same timo it is a concession to those who may be' unable to a.ttend the meetings! • THE VALUE OF A DOG. , Moss of Ancrum, the champion sheep-dog at the Mastorton trials- last week, is valued at £100. His companion, Tweed of Roxboro', is regarded by . his owner, as being worth £80. The general opinion of Wairarapa sheepmen is;that Moss of Ancrum is one of - the most intelligent dogs ever, seen in Now Zoaland.' • AN ELECTRIC ALARM. The trouble of waking up farm hands' early in the morning has been surmounted by a lady who possesses a fairly largo tract of dairying country in tho Wairarapa. Sho has four orjivo sons, and to- obviate any necessity for her turning out of her warm bed in the cold mornings. she has connectcd her room and her,boys' with,-an electric bell. So far, the boys have been the only- olios to protest against the innovation. OUR DIARY. SHOWS. June 2, 3, 4, s.—Otago A. and P. Winter Show (Dunedin). June 12, 13. —Ashburton A. and P. Winter' Show. June 16, 17—Southland A. and P. Winter Show (Invercargill). ■ t June 23 to 26.—National Dairy Show, Pal-. merston North. July 8, ll—Waikato Wintor Show (Hamilton). Oct. 21, 22. —Hawke's Bay A. and P. (Hast- • ings). October 28, 29.—Wairarapa A. and P. (Carterton). Nov. 4, 5, 6.—Manawatu. ..Nov.. 12,13.-—ChristchnrcU. *