THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (FIAT JUSTITIA, RUAT CŒLUM.) THURSDAY, AUGUST 5th, 1897. A GENERAL VALUATION.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume VI, Issue 62, 5 August 1897, Page 5

THE GOLDEN BAY ARGUS. (FIAT JUSTITIA, RUAT CŒLUM.) THURSDAY, AUGUST sth, 1897. A GENERAL VALUATION.

Under an act passed last year, “ The Government Valuation of Land Act,” a valuation of all lands in New Zealand is about to be made, such valuation to date as from the 30th June last. The nature of the particulars required by the Act and the duties of the local valuers appear to be very comprehensive and involve a great amount of work and travelling. The particulars required are given under the headings of Description, Occupancy, Tenancy, Ownership, Valuation, and Improvements, the details of which must be supplied in the case of each holding however small and whether private, Crown, or Native land. It will be the duty of valuers to find out and classify under the above separate headings the interest of each occupier, the nature of his tenancy or title, amount of insurance on buildings, description of land, its unimproved value, and value of improvements. Improvements must be classified and valued separately as follows : dwelling-houses, other buildings, fencing, planting, draining, clearing, laying down in grass or pasture and all other improvements. These again must be further particularised by a description of every dwelling house, state of repair and materials of which it is built, and distances apart; other buildings must also be detailed; particulars of the several kinds of fences must be given, with the approxi-

unite Jeugtu oi each, and the state ot repair; planting must be divided into trees planted for ornamental, shelter, or timber-supply purposes, and the acreages of each given ; draining must state length of ditches and whether covered or open ; clearing must include exact area cleared of timber, scrub, or fern; the area in grass must be stated, and the age and condition of the pasture must be correctly stated in each case ; and all other improvements are defined as bi'ick-kilns, sheep dips, orchards, etc. On goldfields each registered business site and residence area must be dealt with separately. A ■ distinction must in every case be made between the owner and occupier, with relative interest of each, and full name, occupation and address of each separately given, for which purpose the 'valuer must see and confer with all ■ owners and occupiers when engaged in 'valuing. A valuation must also be made of the “annual letting value” and “ annual rent” - of each section. A •special provision is also made that the valuer must visit each property, and the printed instructions conclude by stating that “ Although the details required in “connection with the valuation are “ numerous, there are no more asked “ for than will be insisted upon before “ payment for the work can be sanctioned.” Valuers are given power under the Act to at any time during the day enter upon any land or premises for the purposes of valuing the same, and may put to the occupier or owner thereof any questions he thinks fit touching any of the above particulars ; and any person refusing or neglecting to answer or falsely answers any such questions shall be liable to a penalty bf £lO. It Will thus be seen that under the act vairmrs are given quite a large order, and the work is of some magnitude and requires special adaptability, time, and energy to properly fulfil the duties. For the purpose of carrying out the Valuation the Colony has been divided into Divisions, the Divisions into Districts, and these again into parts, each part containing one or more local districts of convenient size to allow of a valuation being made by one valuer within a reasonable time.

When completed the Vulu.ition is to be the standard Valuation for the pui-poses of the general and local taxation of land, the pi-incipal purposes, more particularly stated, for which the Valuation will be used, being: Land Tax, Stamp Duties, Local ltates, Loans under the Advances to Settlei’S Act, Public Trust, Government Life Insurance, Post Office, Government Loans to Local Bodies, resumption of land under the Public Works Act, and, in fact, for all and every conceivable purpose that valuation of land is likely to be required for. The matter is therefore of some importance to local bodies throughout the colony, whose interests may be very materially affected by the operations of the Act, if not properly controlled and regulated, and at this juncture we might fittingly commend the matter to the earnest consideration and attention of our local County Council and Hoad Board. The Collingwood County and outlying districts have been divided into two parts for the purposes of the Act, each part practically comprising one of the two Ridings with each outlying district, with the Collingwood and Takaka road districts respectively. We learn that Mr J. E. Fletcher has been appointed Valuer for the Aorere Riding under the Act, and will commence his duties at once, and that Mr S. G. Robinson has received a similar appointment for the Takaka Riding. The Valuer-General invited tenders for the work and accepted the lowest tender in each case.

At a meeting of the general Committee appointed in connee'ion with the proposed Kaituna Public Hall project, held on Monday evening, it was resolved to erect the Hall on a site adjoining the Kaituna School, kindly given by Mr H. Moore. A substantial proportion of the subscriptions promised were already in the hands of the Treasurer, and it was decided to proceed with the work at once. Final arrangexnent= for acqu ling a title to the land, end for ordering the necessary material v e t-made, and the Hall promises now to .'-o nhe an accomplished fact. The Committee deserve praise for fheii im.bring efforts to promote the scheme.

some probability of the reopening of the Collingwood Dairy Factory during the coming season. A gentleman from outside the district well versed in the management of factories has issued circulars to farmers in the district, suggesting terms upon which he is prepared to purchase their milk and butter fat, and if the terms are mutually satisfactory the factory will bo in full swing again early in the season. The adjourned sittings of the Magistrate’s and Warden’s Courts will be held here on this day week (l‘2th). In the former Court iliere is the adjourned hearing of the case of Fisher against Taylor, and one or two formal matters ; while in the latter there are one or two disputed applications and a considerable number of unopposed ones to be disposed of. The proceedings are not likely to be lengthy.

It may not be generally known that Mr R. Jamieson, the well-known settler of Bonny Doon, was a passenger on the Wainui at the time of the vessel's recent mishap at the Beef Barrels. Mr Jamieson who is an old “shellback,” describes the occasion as a very stirring one. It may also bo remembered that when the old steamer Lyttelton came to grief at the same place several years ago and sank in a few minutes, the only lady passenger on hoard was Miss Allan, now Mrs G. Grieg.

A notificaiion in our advertising columns indefinitely postpones the unction sale in the Estate of A. Donaldson, deceased.

Final reminder is given of the auction sale of drapery, clothing, etc., to he held in the Public Hall on Saturday afternoon next. Note.—No reserve.

The Road Board meets on Saturday next at 2 p.m. New Ads. —I. Sutton has a replace business ad.—lmpounding Act.—l’o t ponement of Auction Sale. —Ketch Felicity.—&c.