£185,337 CLAIMED FOR LAND TAKEN BY THE STATE

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1949, Page 4

£185,337 CLAIMED FOR LAND TAKEN BY THE STATE

WELLINGTON, This Day. (P.A.).— Land stated to be sufficient for 1200 building sites, 445 acres at Titahi Bay, is the subject of a claim opened today before a Special Compensation Court under the Public Works Act (1928). The claimant is John Hugh Marshall, a. farmer, of Titahi Bay, who seeks £ 185,337 compensation for land taken for housing by the Minister of Works.

The court comprised Mr Justice Gresson, Mr J. O’Shea, K.C, and Mr A. K. North, K.C. For the claimant, Dr’ O. C. Mazengarb appears, with .him Mr F. L. Parkin and Mr L. G. Rose. The Minister is represented by Mr G. G. G. Watson and Mr T. P. Cleary. The claim was originally £301,470, the amount stated when the proceedings opened on June 9 and adjourned, but today the amount was amended by consent to £185,337, with a further claim of £629 to meet survey charges. Dr Mazengarb said the court had to consider the present and the;prospective value of the land to the claimant as at December 15, 1942, the stabilisation date for land values. The claimant, said Dr Mazengarb, hoped to show there was and still 1 could be an even better market for the sale of the land to private owners than to the Crown. (Proceeding).