CITY VALUATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19896, 15 March 1928, Page 10

CITY VALUATIONS.

ASSESSMENT COURT CASES.

FORTY-NINE OBJECTIONS.

POSITION OF LUNA PARK* Objections to the new city valuations were originally lodged by 398 ratepayers, but only 49 cases were adjudicated upon by the Assessment Court, which sat yes\erdav, Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., piesiding. The balance of the cases were either reported to liavo been settled or were struck out through the non-appear-ance of the objectors. In 13 cases Mr. Cutten sustained the city valuation, while in 36 lie made reductions in the rateable values amounting to £856.

Among the objections was one lodged by the Auckland Amusement Park (Mr. Endean). Mr. Endean said the rateable value that had been put on the land and buildings at Luna Park was £2750. He understood the unimproved value of the land was £40,000, which at 5 per cent, gave a rateable value of £2OOO. Evidently the city valuer had proceeded on the false assumption that he could include in his calculations the value of various devices erected there for the purposes of amusement. Mr. Endean said "improvements" were denned as anything on the land that increased the value of the land, with the exception that machinery must be excluded from the rateable value. The amusement devices to which he had referred were clearly machinery. He quoted an English decision in support of his view.

At tho request' of Mr. P. F., Notley, city valuer, the case was adjourned so that it might be argued by the city solicitor. MORE IN KATES NEXT YEAR. « ii. EFFECT OF LARGER CITY- AREA. Over £47,495 more in rates will b9 paid into tho coffers of the Auckland City Council next year if the present rate of 3s lid in tho pound, with an additional two per cent. for water charges, is retained. The increase is due in part to improvements to property, but in large measure to the widening of the city boundaries, particularly by the inclusion of Avondale.

The total rateable value of the city as submitted by the city valuer, Mr. P. F. Notley, on January 15 was £2,474,684. Reductions granted by tho Assessment Court yesterday, ' including a largo number of compromises, reduced the rateable value by approximately £II,OOO to £2,463,684, on which the rates for 1928-29 will be levied. The rateable . value for 1927-28 was £2,262.210, so that the increase in values totals £237,474.