Assessment Court.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 7477, 27 March 1899, Page 4

Assessment Court.

A sitting of the Assessment Court for the borough of Oamaru was held this morning, before Major Keddell. The only objection was that of W. 0. Bandinet, in respect of section 20, block 37, valued at L 39. Mr Creagb appeared for the Corporation, and Mr Crawford for the objector. W. C. Bandinet said that the boose was let by him to Mrs Dennison for 12a a week and 3a for certain furniture, the tenant to pay the rates. The 3a a week was for Venetian blinds, cornice poles and rings, picture rods, oilcloth, grates and range, cupboard, clothes poles and lines. His Worship: Do yon charge for the flooring boards 1 Witness continuing said that if the honse had been taken at capital value he would have been quite satisfied. He would be glad to sell it for LSOO. He told Mr Bale he had let the place temporarily at LSO a year. He subsequently showed him the copy of the agreement with Mrs Dennison. The rent and rates would "not amount to LSO. To Mr Creagb : He could not give the date of the conversation with Mr Rule, bot It was before December. The agreement was dated Aug. 22nd, but he would not swear whether he signed it on that day or not. He could not say whether it was drawn up afterwards and back-dated. With regard to the temporary agreement for LSO per annum, he did not think he got It fpr one month. It was at his suggestion that the rent was divided into two. He believed that the range was built in. He would have taken out the fixtures named if they had not been paid extra for. There were 13 rooms in the house. He made the reduction because he did not think the house worth LSO a year, and did not like to take Mrs Dennlson's money for nothing. Mr Creagh called the valuer, R. L. Ride, who deposed to Mr Bandinet having said that be had let the property to ftfrrt Dennison for a year at LSO. He told him of a different arrangement subsequently. As a vainer he thought the house worth LSO a year. This was about the value of such houses In the town. To Mr Crawford : He did not know that the honse had been empty for some months. He thought that the house was honestly valued at L 39. Hadden Dennison stated that he had arranged a tenancy of the house at LSO a year. Nothing waa said of fittings. The lease was to be for a year. He knew of the subsequent variation. He had never

heard of a special rent being paid for blinds, range, etc., which were essential to a hoase of that sort. He thought the house worth from 17s 6d to 20s a week. The hill was not a disadvantage. To Mr Crawford : He did not know that the house had stood empty for four months. He did not know what the house was worth, the tenant to pay rates. He had never let a house on these terms. After hearing counsel, Tlfg Worship stated that he must take the rent at los per week. Valuation reduced to L3l. Costs of LI Is were allowed the applicant.