THE FLAXB URNE ESTATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 9

THE FLAXB URNE ESTATE.

BLENHEIM, April 11. The hearing of the case Clifford v. the Minister of Lands, a Ciaim of £335,000 in respect to the comptilsory acqviisition of the Flaxbourne Estate, some 25 miles from Blenheim, was resumed here to-day. This is the fourth sitting of the Compensation Court for this ca«e. In February last, after an extended sitting. Mr Justice Cooper, Mr J. G. Wilson, and the Hon. T. K. Macdonald failed to agree on an award, and a fresh court has been constituted, the president on this occasion being the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, and the assessors Air Gilbert Anderson, of Christchurch, for the claimants, and Mr T. Crosse, of Hawke's Bay, for the Minister. M^Skerrett, of Wellington, with Mr H. Johnstone Connolly, appears for the claimant ; Mr Sim, of Dunedin, with Mr Fmcllay and Mr M'Callum, for the respondent. The judge and assessors have spent some days in viewing the property, whioh is to be valued as at ths time of the proclamation in February, 1902. The question of classification and the area retained by the owners were settled by the pre-vious court in December last. The area of the owners' reservation is roughly 11,500 acres, and the area beingtaken by the Government is approximately 45.700 acres. The function of the court on this occasion is to fix the price Jo be paid, and the evidence is on the same lines as before. The witnesses so far are Mr A. S. Biss, accouinitant for the owners ; Mr Peter Hayes, Commissioner of Taxes, who was a witness for the Minister ; Sir George Clifford, the principal owner ; and Mr E. A, Weld, manager.