THE LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8882, 19 May 1892, Page 6

THE LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT ACT.

BOARD OF REVIEWERS.

The Board of Roviewers for Eden County of values under the Land and Income Assessment Act resumed their sittings yesterday, at the Resident Magistrate's Courthouse. Mr. W. J. Courtney was the chairman, and Messrs. D. A. Tole and Geo. Johnstone the other reviewers. Messrs. T. F. Cheeseman and T. Ussher, Government valuers, were present. Mr. John Bancroft, of tho Industrial Provident Building Society, complained that the advertisements announcing the sittings of tho Court were too vague. Many people did not know that Mount Eden, Eden Terrace, and other district'! near the city would bo considered as within Eden County. He asked that a recommendation should be made to the Commissioner of Taxes that there should bo a re-sitting of the Board for the Eden County. Mr. Courtney said that the reviewers had received authority to give ample notice in future, with particulars of the districts in i each county. Mr. Thorno said that in regard to several assessments he laid not yet received notice from the Commissioner of Taxes whether the objections made would be allowed. Mr. Courtney said that the Board would hold a special sitting of tho Eden County if the Commissioner asked them to do so, but they would not recommend it.

MOUNT WELLINGTON-. With regard to the application of the Bank of Australasia for a reduction of the assessment of 15S acres near St. John's College, Mr. Cheeseman said he had informed the Commissioner that he had asked for the adjournment of this case, and had received a telegram advising him not to call any other evidence than his own, as the Commissioner would be satisfied with that. Therefore, he had not called any witnesses ; but he had obtained assistance as to the measurements of the property. He had found that the actual value of the estate, including both portions, that in Remuera and the piece in Mount .Veilington, was £(3650, thai the improvements were valued at £730, and that the unimproved value was £5900. Six years ago tho property had been valued at £9690, an estimate against which there was no appeal. Ho had been told

that it would cost only £660 to drain the land, for tho so-called swamp on the property was not a swamp at all. Mr. H. Campbell, who supported the appeal for the reduction, sai l that- Mr. Vaile's value of

the pro(>erty was £2938 for the piece at Remuera. and £ISOO for the land in Mount Wellington, or a total sum of £4738. As to Mr. Cheeseinan's value, the Bank were prepared to take £5000 for the pro perty. Mr. Ewington repeated his opinion expressed at the first sitting of the Court, that the Government valuation was excessive. The Board reduced the assessment to £5000.

Bank of Australasia, six allotments on the Panmure Road, of a total area of 1 acre 2 roods, £192 : By consent of the valuer, the assessment was reduced to £102, or £17 for each allotment. ARCHILL. E. W. Morrison, Archill, £S0 : Reduced to £60.

Charles Spooner (for the executors of the late S. Jagger), Great North Road, leasehold property, £12i)0 : Mr. Duke said that any person who wished to take the lease could have it for nothing, and he, therefore, applied that the tenancy value, £200, be struck out. He asked that the capital assessment, which thus stood at £1000, be reduced. Mr. Ussher maintained that the Court should deal only with the leasehold interest, as there was no appeal from the owner against the capital value. The valuation was sustained. Mr. Duke said the Commissioner would be asked to buy the property at its owner's valuation. M. Cow, £210: Reduced to £200 by consent of the valuer. H. Mann, King and Stanley-streets, £500: Mr. Duke, on behalf of the owner, offered the property for sale for £300. The value was reiuced to £400 by consent of the valuer. I. Wakerley, Commercial Road, £230 : Reduce to £200 by the consent of the valuer. C. S. Streeter, Commercial Road, £230 : Mr. Duke said that the owner would sell for £150. The Boitrd reduced to £200. J. S. Wilson, Russell-street, £90 : Reduced to £»0. •J. Hanlon, Great North Roar], £730: Mr. Duke said the owner would take £530 for the property. Mr. U-sher said that Mr. Hanlon had admitted that he was satisfied with the Government assessment. The valuation was sustained. James Young, 2] acres near tho Archhill Hotel, £1950 : Mr. Duke supported an application for a reduction ; hut Mr. Ussher opposed it, and the valuation was sustained. The following objectors did not appear : —R. Lenihan, James Murphy, W. J. Munro, J. Skeen, A. Kershaw, ,J. Bayldon, John O'Hara, Whitaker and Rus e ell, John Middlebrook, A. Lepine, W. Hay, M. j Fiynn, and S. Jones. I