THE DUNBACK RESERVE.

Evening Star, Issue 11694, 27 September 1902, Page 4

THE DUNBACK RESERVE.

THE FACTS ABOUT MB 'E. G. ALLEN'S .- LEASE. .. : .,

AND THE BENT REDUCTION.

There being reason to suppose that the circumstances leading up to and connected with Mr E. G. Allen's move for a reduction of the rent of the Dunback reserve (one of the Port Chalmers municipal endowments) are not generally known, and that the confusion as to facta is being used to Mr Allen's disadvantage politically, we have caused independent inquiries to be made into the particulars of tbV transaction.. One of our reporters went to Port Cha>"*» this morning, and by permission of Mr A. Leek, town clerk, and in the presence of- Mr J., Thomson (the mayor), was permitted to freely and fully examine the correspondence and the records. Our representative reports

"I find that the lease of the Dunback Reserve of 3,C00 acres givea the tenancy to Mr Allen for fourteen years, from the 27th March, 1895, at a yearly rental •# £l6O clear of all deductions.

"On the 9th May, 1901, Mr Allen having applied for a reduction of rent, was informed .hat the Reserves Committee could not see their way to recommend a reduction.

"In the following February the lessee again applied, and this time was replied to that the Council could not see their wav, etc.

"On the 14th April, 1902; Mr Allen again wrote to the Council asking for a reduction, and a discussion resu.ted m a resolution to the effect that the letter be refered to the Reserves Committee, to receive careful considera ion, the Comnu tee to have power to inspect the endowment and to report. This was moved by Cr Leech and seconded by Or Inverarity. " On the Bth May Mr Allen wrote to the Reserves Committee: 'After personal inspection, I feel sure you will be satisfied that nothing has been neglected in fulfilling the conditions of the lease. During my seven years' occupation five years have resulted in a decided loss. For the other two years the working of the reserve shows a picfit. This was in 1898 and 1900, when wool was abnormally high and stock realised good prices. The working account annexed shows a deficiency on the whole period of £ll2 Is sd, but if my brother's woik and my own were counted in, and other matters which could be fairly charged against profit, the correct deficiency would appear as £691 Is sd. One of my neighbors pays 8d per acre, another 3d, another 9d, another per acre. I pay Is. I leave the matter in your hands, confident that you will do me justice and grant relief.' The above is a condensation of the leading sentences in Mr Allen's letter. "The Reserves Committee visited the ground and took the evidence of persons who were in a position to estimate the value. Several of the neighboring holders committed their opinions to writing. Mr A. G. Davis (Stoneburn) stated that Mr Allen was justified in asking a reduction, Bnd that 9d was enough. Mr P. Giiford (Macraes) considered that 8d would be a fair value. Mr J. Chapman (Stoneburn) thought 9d fair. Mr J. Kennedy (Flag Swamp) was of opinion that 6d was the outside value. Mr G. Coutts (Stoneburn) thought 9d full value. Mr J. Philip said that 9d was outside what he considered a fair rental. " The Committe also had before them Mr Allen's account sales as verification of his statements, likewise the assessment of Mr Wm. Craig, the Government valuer, whose valuation of the 14th August, 1897 —the last one made—worked out to 9d per acre. "The only estimate above 9d, so far as is known, was that of the late Mr J. M'Adie, a blacksmith, who reported that in his opinion the land was worth Is; and it is stated that Mr M'Adie had himself let land at that value, therefore would be hardly likely to think it should be let for less.

"The Reserves Committee met on the 24th May, and on the evidence before Ihem, added to th 3 fact that the reserve was put up At the upset of lOd in 1895, they came to tht: conclusion that 9d was. a fair and reasonable value, and they recommended accordingly, such reduction to take effect from the 21st Maich, 1902. 'lhis report was signed by Mr John (late mayor), Mr J. Thomson (the present mayor), and Crs Inverarity, Shanks, and Mackay, members of the Reserves Committee

"This report came before the Council on the 7th July, and was adopted on a motion moved by Cr Invexarity and seconded by Cr Mackay. The voting was 5 to 4 apart from the mayor, the ayes being Cri Leech, Godfred, Mackay, Inverarity, and Shaw, and the noes Crs Cable, Tait, Edgar, and Simpson. "On the 14th July the mayor authorised the town clerk to call a special meeting of the Council for the 21st July to pass the following resolution:—'That, in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, part xxi, section 1,898, the annual rent of section 2, block 7, Dunback survey district, held under lease dated the 15th August, 1895, by Mr E. G. Allen, be fixed at 9d per acre from the 27th March, 1902, to the 27th March 1909.'

"I find, alio, that Mr Allen has paid his rent regularly." The above is our reporter's finding as to facta. They seem to be simple and straightforward, and it is a pity that a transaction which is clear and plain should have been so much misunderstood as to do Mr Allen an injustice.