COMPENSATION CASE. THE CARRINGTON ESTATE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 41, 18 February 1908, Page 8

COMPENSATION CASE. THE CARRINGTON ESTATE.

The hearing of the Carrington Estate compensation case was resumed this morning before his Honour the Chief Justice, and Messrs James M'Kerrow and H. R. Bunny, assessors. Further witnesses were called on behalf of claimant, tho owner of the estate. Mr. D. M. Findlay, in opening the case for tha Crown, said the value placed by claimant's witnesses on the block taken was £40,000 and upwards, whereas his witnesses estimated the value at from £32,000 to £35,000. The&e figures did not include the value of the reserved portion. He submitted that the valuations of claimant's witnesses were upon a. very high basis. A laige area of the land was in stumps or in bush, and , that should be taken into account. There was also a considerable area of poor land. He then called evidence. John Fraser said he valued the property for Government valuation purposes in June, 1906. His valuation war£54,774 for the whole estate, including th.o reserved portion. That was a full valuation. He had increased his valuations by 30 per cent all round since 1903. He made a further valuation for the purpose of this case. His total valuation ..now, exi.ln.sive of buildings, was -£55,275. The retained area he valued at £19,782, and the balance at £35,493 In reply to a question by Mr. Skerrett, witness said that in valuing for land tax purposes he always kept within a fair selling value. Following are the estimates of the value of the estate as made by witnesses c Gov ernmcnt:— A. Anderson, £34,345; J. A Fail-brother, £34,080: John Fraser, £34,593 ; J. Sievers, £34 - 699; and J. D. Cameron, £35,716. ■Argument by counsel was proceeding as Iho Post went to press.

To-morrow, at 2.30 p.m., at their rooms. Featherston-street, Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co. aiu he-Ming a property auction 'sale. Iwo six and sevon roomed residences, Grove-road, Kelburns, are being Bubmitted. The land with each of these houses has a frontage of ZMt 4in. The auctioneers state that the properties are within five hundred yards' of the Kelburno power house. Eight building sites at Crof- : ton are also being submitted, three having 'frontages to the Main Crofton-Kaiwarra-road, and the other five frontages to Mainroad and Imlay-crescent, the latter being within five minutes' walk of Crofton Railway Station. All the sections are flagged *nd numbered. The terms are set forth in the advertisement. The grocers assistants' annual picnic will •!>•> held at Day's JBuy to-morrow. An entertaining programme has , been arjanared.