COMPENSATION CLAIM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 12

COMPENSATION CLAIM

LANDOWNER AWARDED £7600 PROPERTY TAKEN FOR STATE HOUSING <Peb United Press Association) GREYMOUTH. June 6. Compensation amounting to £7600 was awarded Ellen Keeney, of Cobdsn. on a claim for £9754 5s against the Minister of Public Works for loss arising out of taking 34 acres 36 perches at Cobden for a State housing settlement. This decision was made by the Assessment Court, presided over by Mr Justice Northcroft, after a hearing lasting three days. The court's award was £3OOO, less £4OO for betterment to the remainder of Keeney's land. Costs of tOOgns and assessors' fees of 140gns, with witnesses' expenses, were ordered to be paid by the Crown. His Honor refused a request from Mr F. A. Kitchingham, Crown Solicitor, to refer questions of law to the Supreme Court, as the request was made after the award was announced and not at the proper time. Lengthy evidence was called, ine shortage of suitable building sections in Greymouth and Cobden was stressed, and witnesses on both sides agreed that no other block of land available for sub-divisional purposes was as near the centre of Greymouth as Keeney's.