COURT OF REVIEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8886, 24 May 1892, Page 3

COURT OF REVIEW.

— HOBSON COUNTY. Thk Court of Review for Ilobson County held its lirat sittings at the Dargaville Courthouse, Ihursday, May 1!'. Present: —F. Bradley (chairman), T. Bassett, and M. Cobbald. The chairman stated that the court would not allow expenses either for or against the Commissioner, but would allow witnesses' expenses. The list of objections had not been forwarded to the court according to the Act, but the court decided to proceed on a list furnished to Mr. Lambert, who appeared to sustain his valuations. The list of objectors was not numerous, and several did not appear to sustain their objections : — Kopuru Riding : F. \V. Matthews objected to his valuation, £4828, and asked to have it reduced by .1'1,101): .Machinery bore a treble tax in the shape of customs duties, property tax, and County rate; it had hitherto been free. Tile Chairman said the court had no power to adjust the question, machinery must be valued. Valuation reduced by £328. T. Webb reduced from £S'oo to JL'Otj"). Kauri Timber Company, total valuation, £SSO(i : Mr. Wade appeared for the Company, and raised various objections. The mill property had been raised £2000. The houses had gone back in condition. The manager's house was valued at £800, but he would undertake to rebuild it lor £450. £200 reduction was allowed for the manager's house, £8 each on the cottages, £50 off Mr. Liudley's house: £.10 oil' the boardinghouse, and £50 oil' Cartwright's house, total reductions allowed, £690. M. O'Connor, Aratapu | Riding, £2000: Mr. O'Connor said the owner would sell for £1500. Valuation sustained. Kauri 'I imber Company, Opunake block, 36415 acres, valuation 1'10,938 : Mr. Wade said they did not own the land. The land had been leased to other people for gum. The previous valuation had been £7-00, and he considered it an attempt to blackmail the Company. Mr. Bramley was called as a witness. He reckoned there were 6,000,000 feet of timber on the block. Mr. Lambert called Mr. H. T. Smith, lie reckoned there were 17,000,000 feet of timber. Reduced to £!);{( The Opanake block in the Dargaville riding was then considered, 9011 acres, valuation £30,000: Mr. ado estimated that there were 45,000,000 feet of timber on the block. Reduced to £"26,500. Okahu riding, G. Dreardou, sen., 218 acres, valuation £1000 : He said the valuer had not visited him. He called Mr. Rorkillas witness, who considered 70 acres of poor land worth 5s an acre. Good grass land was worth £2 10s an acre. Mr. Lambert said he had reckoned good grass land at £7 an acre. Valuation sustained. Aratapu riding : — Morgan, '200 acres, valuation £1500: Mr. Lambert said he had valued the good grass land at £10 an acre there. Reduced to £1200. J. Niinmo, 40,547 acres, valuation £15,000: J. l'assell appeared. Mr. Lambert called Mr. A. J£. Harding as a witness, who said there were about 5000 acres of good land on the block not difficult to drain. There were three railway stations on it. Mr. l'assell asked for an adjournment. The Chairman said the Commissioners were satisfied that the block was by no means over-valued. Adjourned to June 7. Aratapu Mill property :J. Black's house, value £90, reduced by £20; J. Fletcher's, £80, reduced by £20; W. Francis £50, reduced by £25: J. Harrison's, £150, reduced by £25 ; 11. Higgins', £50, reduced by £20; G. Lowrie's, £40, reduced by £20 ; the boardinghouse, £140, reduced by £20; A, Nowter's, £35. reduced by £10 ; managers house, reduced to £150. Themills valuation £5800; previous value, £4540: Valuation sustained. Total reduction 011 the houses, £195 Mr. Wade said he had GO or 70 objections' to lodge in the Okahu riding. The Court adjourned to June 7, at the Council offices, Aratapu. All the objections other than the Kauri Timber Company's and Mr. Nimmo's were disposed [Aratapu Correspondent.] ____________