PROPERTY TAX-EDEN COUNTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9369, 20 May 1889, Page 6

PROPERTY TA X-E DEN COUNTY.

NEWTON BOROUGH.

The Board of Reviewers, Messrs. S. Y. Collins, Joseph Newman, and F. R. Claude, gat in the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday, to hear objections to the valuations of properties in the Borough of Newton. Mr. T. Ussher, the valuer, was present. William Thome, solicitor, assessed at £1140 for properties in Sussex Ward, objected, on the ground that the valuation was excessive. The land was bought in the hieh times for £280, and the houses cost £¥•09, but he claimed that- property had depreciated '25 per cent, since that time. Reduced to £900, and the assessment was divided, namely, £320 to William Thome, senior, as lessees' interest, and £580 to Wm. Thome, jun. Chas. Williamson, on behalf of E. Coldicutt who was assessed at. £240 for property in Sussex Ward objected that it was excessive. Reduced to £200. Mr. Williamson, on behalf of Wm. Turner, assessed at £300, for house and allotment in Surrey Ward, objected. Reduced to £275. Maurice Casey, assessed at £330, for property in Richmond Ward, objected. Reduced to £225. Maurice Casey, for Margaret Spiers Casey, assessed at £275, for property in Surrey Ward, objected. Reduced to £200. He also objected to the valuation of £430 on another property in the same ward. Reduced to £400. J. J. Craig, executor for the late J. , Craig, objected to the assessment of £460 on property in Surrey Ward. Reduced to £400. He also objected to the assessment of £900 on a second property. Reduced to £700. Duncan Campbell, assessed at £370 for property in Surrey Ward, objected. Reduced to £300. William Edgecombe, for whom Mr. Burton appeared, objected to the valuation of £800 on a property in Surrey Ward. Mr. Button desired to examine Mr. Ussher, but Mr. Ussher objected that such a course was never hitherto pursued. The Bench, however, overruled the objection, and Mr. Ussher was called, and gave evidence in support of his valuation. There were two large dwellings, which he valued at £600, and he valued the land at £200, and this he considered a very fair valuation. Duncan Campbell deposed that, in his opinion, the fair valuation of the property would be £550. He was well acquainted with the value of properties in that district. The property had been offered to him IS months ago for £650. John S. Duke also gave evidence as to the value. He valued, the houses at £400, and the land at £3 a foot, making a total value of £542. The appellant was called and produced his rent-book, showing a total of £38 2s 6d for the last 13 months. The property fell into his hands on a mortgage, and he had repeatedly tried to sell it for £550, and he was now willing to let the Government have it at that price. In reply to Mr. Ussher, he said he did not know the amount of insurance on the property. Reduced to £650. Alfred H. Eastwood, assessed at £270 for house and allotment in Tennysonstreet, Surrey Ward, objected. ; Reduced to £250. Jas. MoNair assessed at £2750 for 27 acres 2 roods, in Richmond Ward, appealed against it as excessive. Reduced to £2500. Mary Ann Donaldson (for whom Mr. Duke appeared), assessed at £330 on a houses and allotment, objected. Reduced to £310. William Monaghan, assessed at £120 for property in Richmond Ward, appealed. The property was leasehold, and fell into the appellant's hands as mortgagee. He had given a lease of the house at 2s 6d a week for twelve months, with a purchasing clause under which the tenant could purchase at £40. Reduced to £50. Edward Bull, assessed at £208, for property in Surrey Ward, objected. There was no building on the allotment. Reduced to £150. John Reid (for whom Mr. Duke appeared) objected to the assessment of £210, for property in Sussex Ward. Mr. Ussher said that Mr. Reid had agreed with him to the valuation of this property at £210. Valuation sustained. NEWMARKET. Mrs. Murphy, assessed at £200 for a house at Newmarket, appealed. The appeal stood over from last Wednesday, and was now taken, the appellant being present. Reduced to £150. KARANGAHAPE WARD (CITY OF AUCKLAND).

Mr. W. Barrow appealed against the assessment of a lot in West-street and Edwin-street, having a frontage to each street. The evidence of the appellant was taken, as he had come 26 miles that morning, thinking the Karangahape Ward would be token with Newton objections. He was assessed at £350, and was willing to sell for £200. He was informed that the case would be further heard on the date appointed, when the assessor was present.