ASSESSMENT COURT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 44, 20 August 1908, Page 2

ASSESSMENT COURT.

LAND AT KARORI. VALUATIONS SUSTAINED.

A sitting of the Assessment Court was held at the Magistrate'^ Court Building yesterday afternoon. Dr. M'Arthur, S.M., and Mr. D. T. Stuart presided. The business before the court was tho hearing of several objections tz valuations on certain lands in the Karori Borough. Mr. F. W. 'Marti: 1 .jpeared in support of tho valuation. A reduction was sought in section 44 of the Burrows an area, of 112acres 3 roods 26 perches. The land had been assessed at £10,385 capital value, and £10,335 unimproved value. Applicants, who were represented by Mr. C. H. Izard, called no evidence. The valuation was sustained. The Public Trustee, on bohalf of the. estate of P. Monaghan, objected to the valuation of section 33, 'Main-road, Karori, an area of 20i acres. The capital value had been given as £2165, and the unimproved £2140, and as grounds for tho application for a reduction Mr. Chas. Monaghan stated that the- land was not bo saleable as it was three years ago. In sustaining the valuation, Dr. M'Arthur remarked on the difference of opinion between the Government valuer and the Public Trustee. The latter stated that there were ten acres of good land worth £100 per acre, while tho Government valuer said there were only seven acres of a value of* £200 per acre. The Public Trustee, though he sought a 20 per cent, reduction, had brought no evidence to support his application. The Karori Land Association asked for a reduction on 87 acres 8 perches of land at Makara, assessed at a capital value £3740, and unimproved value £3500. The valuation was sustained on the understanding that the property would b« offered for sale to the Government under terms of section 31 of the Government Valuation Act. Henry E. Dryden opposed the valuation placed on 1 aero 14.9 perches of land — capital value £1615, unimproved value £1085. In cross-examination the applicant admitted having asked £1800 for the land in question, with a reserve of 50lt not included in the sale. The assessment was upheld. An -objection was made by A. 'B. Fitchett to the assessment of 158 acres 30 perches of land near the catchment area at the back of Fitchettown. The Government valuer had set down the capital vain© at £7345, and the unimproved value at £6320. 'Mr. Fitchett, in evidence, eaidj he was prepared to sell tho land in question for £5000 : £500 cash, and the balance at 4 per cent. He received at present £3 per week rent for it, but a third of the amount went in taxation. In this case, too, tho valuation was sustained, it being understood that the 1 block will be offered to the. Government under the governing section of the valuation Act.