GOVERNMENT VALUATIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 141, 16 June 1899, Page 6

GOVERNMENT VAL UA TIONS.

SITTING OF THE ASSESSMENT COURT. Mr. W. R. Haselden, 8.M., sat as Judge of the Assessment Court this morning to disposo of objections to the Government valuations in the Boroughs of Wellington, Hutt, Petone, Onslow, Karon, and Melrosc and Hutt County. Mossrs. T. K. Macdonald and J. B. Dugdnlo appoared to support the Departmental valuations. J. P. Jorgenson, Kilbirnio, the capital value of whoso property was assessed at £730 and unimproved value at £350, objected to tho unimproved value as too high, but tho objection was disallowed. 0. W. Brown, for whom Mr. Witford appeared, objected to the valuation of sections 34 and 224, Belmont Survey District, area 43 acres 1 rood, capital value £2150— minimum value £2000, and improvements £150. Mr. Wilford said 18 acres were Hill land. Up to last year the valuation was £1300, and the improvements £300. Right through tho Hutt district a fictitious value was being put on land. Even Chinamen, who were supposed to live on the' "smell of an oil rag," could not Make 11' living at tho rents asked,' and bad had' to g6 elsewhere. He submitted that the fair test of value of land was how much could bo made off it. His Honour said it was an absolutely impossible task for him to make assessments on that basis. It would take a Royal Commission to investigate all the questions involved. He could only take one basis, and that Aras what was the market value. Mr. Brown said though he did not want to leave his homo the Qovornmont could havo it and welcome at tho price put upon it. Other witnesses considered the valuation made excessiyo. For the Department, T. W. Cavorhill put tho value at £2323— h0 would givo £2000 for it at any time as a speculation — and ho believed it would readily let at £110 per annum. John Eraser, District Valuer for tho Hutt, valued tho property at £2167, and was of opinion that it would easily bring that money if put into the market. His Honour said he would consider the matter. The Bank of New. South Wales, for whom Mr. T. W. Hislop appeared, objected to the valuation of its premises on Lambton-quay— capital value £19,920, unimproved value £17,1m>, and valuo of improvements £2800. After the luncheon adjournment it was announced that tho Bank had withdrawn its objection, a concession having been made by the Department, by which tho valuation would bo reduced from £160 per foot to £155, or a total reduction in valuation of £535. These were all tho objections tho Court was called upon to hear.