THE FEVER HOSPITAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 302, 15 September 1908, Page 4

THE FEVER HOSPITAL.

A QUESTION OF VALUATION. Tho orootion of the fever hospital is boiug delayed by the difference in tho valuations of tho Government and the Wellington Hospital Trustees' regarding the exchange of the Kevans Street endowment, held by the trustees for a portion of tho Mental Hospital grounds at Newtown. A special meeting of tho Board of Trustees wan held yesterday morning to deal with correspondence 011 tho matter. There were present:—The Hon. C. M. Luke (in the chair), and-Messrs. G. London, F. G. Bolton, G. Nash, 11. C. Kirk, W. H. Hales, J., Danks, and J. W. M'lSwan. Tho Mowing correspondence was read: — Dr. Hay (Inspector-General of tho Mental Hospitals Department), 011 August 20, wrote that the values placed on tho land wero as follow-"The portion containing 7 acres and 13.6 perches was valued at £6160, and tho portion containing 2 acres 1 rood and 37 perches at £1520. This is the': area, tho utility of which in any future subdivision of tho estate would bo lost to us 011 account of tho continuation of Coromandel Street in a straight lino as shown in the plan, and tho loss of frontages on tho adjacent part of tho seven-acre area. As this triangular area would bo of no use to you for building, it is merely included on tho understanding that it might bo taken over by tho trustees for plantations if tho valuo placed on it wero sufficiently low and within their means." ; Mr. C. 0. Crump, the trustees' valuer, on September 2 forwarded tho following valuation for tho 9 acres 2 roods 10 perches:— "Tho block containing 7 acres 14 perches I value at £4500, and that containing 2 acres 1 rood 36 perches at £750. With regard to the first, block, I call it anything but good building land (some of it is nearly useless); with the exception of about two acres nearest to Coromandel Street it is all steep hill. To form a road, dedicate, lay storm water sewage drains, surveying, interest, and other expenses would cost mora than half tho valuo of the land, and it was getting further away from tho tram. Consequently, tho prices of the Coromandel Street land could - not' be compared with this. It is only fit to bo subdivided into aero blocks. Tho block containing 2 acres 1 rood 36 perches, owing to its shapo and position, would bo of very littlo use to tho seven-acre block." .On September 4 Mr. Crump • wrote the trustees stating that, at the request of Dr. Hay, he waited on Messrs. Martin and Ames (the Government valuers) that day to discuss the position.- Ho was sorry to say that 110 agreement could bo reached as they wero asking a retail price for tho land (and thev agreed with the writ-er that it was a retail price) and .they said that they wero entitled to get every penny that it was possible to get out of it, just as if it wero roaded and ready for the market. Ho maintained that tho wholesale prico should bo paid, and 110•thing more. It would cost over £2500 to put tho land into shapo, and malco it ready for retail selling. If they would deduct that from their valuation, especially when thoy were not going to spend it, tho two valuations should not be far apart. On tho other hand, they wanted the trustees to state what piece of land they wore willing to ojehango in order that a valuation might be arrived at in tho same manner. The valuers said that if tho trustees would give a retail pries for this land, thoy would bo willing to allow a retail prico for tho land received in exchange. That, continued Mr. Crump, wa3 all right providing that tho trustees' land was in a similar position to theirs, so as to be able to charge about £2500 for nothing. ■ Tho following lotter was forwarded from tho trustoes.to tho Minister for Public Health on September 10:—"Regarding tho fever hospital site, I am instructed by the Wellington Hospital Trustees to bring under your notice the difference in valuations arrived at by the Govornment valuers and tho trustees' valuer. It would scom from Mr. Crump's letter (a copy of which is enclosed) that the Government valuers have arrived at their valuation as tho result of an' assumed salo of the, whole subdivision at retail prices, whereas out valuer contends that, for tho purposos or an exchango such as this, tho valuo placed upon tho land should bo a wholesalo and not a roiail oue. lam instructed to point out that,-in the .present state of the land market in Wellington, it would bo next to impossible to sell tho sections of such subdivision at remunerative prices within any, l considerable period, and, as you have said, as the' Crown is averse to selling any of its land, it would bo 'apparent that if the subdivision wore put up to lcaso tho . sections would bo even slower in going off than would .tho freehold ones. Again, as tho hospital is acquiring tho land for a public purpose, and cannot possibly subdivide it, tho trustees submit that it is unfair and inequitable that thoy should be obliged to pay a rotail pricc to tho Crown,' as it is impossiblo for the trustees ever to subdivido and so realise a retail prico. The trustees ask that careful consideration may bo given to tho whole question with the view of . your agreeing, if possible, to the exchango taking effect on the basis of a wholesale value being, placed ! upon your land rather than a retail. Before coming to a conclusion on the matter, tho trustees would be glad of a definite assuranco from you regarding the question of 0 grant being mado by tho Government tc tho trustees by way of subsidy on the ox-change,-as you have decided that in othei respects the exchange. of laiid must bo 011 the basis of equal values. . This suggestion was strongly urged upon you at . the recent deputation, and you appeared to bo favourably impressed with tho justice of the .claim. Would it bo too much to ask that the Government will so subsidise tho transaction, and to what extent?" The Inspector-General of tho Mental Hospitals Department acknowledged receipt oi the board's lotter of 10th instant, and stated, by direction of tho Minister, that tho basis of exchange must bo that of equal valuo as .determined by tho Government Valuation Department. Tho Minister was anxious that thero should not bo any further delay in view of tho necessary legislation! If the trustees indicated what property it was thej proposed to give in cxchangc, tho valuation would bo proceeded with forthwith. Witli regard to a grant ill connection with tilt proposed exchange of property, he was instructed to inform tho board that' the Government could hot accede to the wishes of the trustees. . t t( Exception was taken to the Government's attitude, and it 'was stated that if the Government did not act in a more reasonable spirit the trustees would havo to seriouslj consider .whether they would havo the fovoi hospital erected on some suburban property, This might prove more expensive, and as the Government would havo to pay half oi the cost they would probably loso more thai: Ky meeting the trustees moro reasonably. II was also asserted that although the Government had asked them to got a separate valuation of their reserves, there was an intention to reduce it if it did not agreo with the Valuor-Goneral's figuros. ' Mr. London said that the valuation ol the Government land was too high, and thai tho speculative values of tho past had faller away. In this connection, he was surprised at the action of a'Minister liko Mr. Fowlds, Tho speaker then referred to a property noi far from the Asylum, which could bo bough! very much cheaper and in the open market, but it was wind-swept. Mr. Kirk remarked that if the proposed exchango was made a reservation could be mado on either side to appeal to an Assessment Court. Mr. Nash was in favour of tho suburban idea. Mr. Bolton also at the action of the Minister, who, after tho interview with the trustees, said he was prepared tc recommend Cabinet to grant a sum in connection with the exchange. In tho speaker's opinion, AVellington bad not received equitable treatment from.tho Government regarding endowments. . It was decided that Mr. Crump's values be adhered to, and that 110 bo instructed tc proparo a valuation of the trustees' I?evanf Street property, for submission to tho Government.

Mr. S. T. Bast,oclo, formerly Commissioner oE Fisheries for Ontario, has been recommended'by Canada as British Commissioner on tho new treaty relating to boundary fisheries betweeii Canada and tho United States.