THE AUCKLAND VALUATION TROUBLES.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1899, Page 5

THE A UCKLAND VAL UA TION TROUBLES.

« [BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATIONS Auckland, 27th January. The City Valuer has furnished an elaborate report to the City Council traversing the statements of the Ratepayers' Association as to the alleged under-valuation of hotel property. He states :—" With regard to hotels, which figure so largely in their complaint, allow me to reiterate the statement that there are circumstances connected with them that I do noi feel justified in making public, as I hold a valuer should not disclose business of a private nature as between landlord and tenant or lessor and lessee unless absolutely necessary. At the same time lam pre pared to give such information as will verify my statement upon being satisfied it will be treated as confidential." The report was referred to a special committee An important document bearing on the burgess rolls of the city outside that of the South Ward, prepared by Mr. E. Mowbray, Rate Collector, was read at a meeting of me Cit^ Council. Mr. Mowbray, in his report, stated that he had carefully checked the burgess rolls with the valuation books. The report is as follows- — "North Ward roll — With exception of one name which has been omitted, this is absolutely correct. The East Ward roll has 45 names appearing on it M'hich are not on the valuation roll, while two names' on the valuation roll are omitted from the burgess roll. Ponsonby Ward has two names appearing on the burgess roll which are not on the valuation roll, and two names are omitted from the burgess roll."