ASSESSMENT COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5396, 4 March 1879, Page 3

ASSESSMENT COURT.

Grafton Road Highway District.—An Assessment Court, to hear objections against the assessment roll for the Grafton Road Highway District, was held before Mr. R. C. Barstow, Judge, yesterday, at the old school-room, Grafton ttoad. Mr. Ashton, jun., as clerk, represented the Board, and Mr. Ashton, sen., valuer, was present to support the roll.—The Town Clerk, on behalf of the City Council, had lodged an objection against the Waterworks, Kybcr Pass, being assessed, on the ground that the property was exempt from taxation. Mr. Ashton, jun., said the case was settled, the Board agreeing to exempt tho property. His Honor said the Town Clerk's reading of the Act was different from his, for the Court held that while the Waterworks were exempt from taxation, tne land on which they stood was not exempt, and it was only the waterworks, as improvements, that were exempt. However, as the Board had agreed that the property should not be assessed, the entry was struck out of the valuation list. —Mr. Hewson objected against his valuation, and the grounds of objection were that his valuation was in excess of other properties of similar description in the neighbourhood. The Court held that this was not a valid objection. Mr. Hewson did not appear, and the valuation *as sustained.—Mr. F. A. Triname objected that the property of which he was lessee was over-estimated. It was estimated at £3500, or an annual value of £175. He said the property had be«n for years in the market, and the highest offer ever received for it was £3000. which, at 5 per cent., gave an annual value of £150. He understand the valuation ought to be 5 per cent, below that, —making it £135 ayear. His Honor said that, as the offer of £3000 had been refused, it was evident the owner valued it at more than that. Mr. Triname said that perhaps the owner did not want to sell it, and only put it into the market to ascertain its value. He did not say that it was so, but it might be so, aud he thought the value of a property should bo what it would fetch in the market. His Worship said that £3000 having been refused, and tho property being valued at £3500, the value must be between those amounts. He would, therefore, divide between them, and reduce the annual value from £175 to £IG2. There were no other objections, and the assessment roll was then sigucd. Mount Eden Highway District.—Mr. Barstow attended to hear objections to the valuation list of this district yesterday afternoon ; but the clerk and valuer being absent, and the valuation roll not forthcoming, the Court adjourned.