LAW QUERIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 39

LAW QUERIES.

[Answered by a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Letters and Telegrams must be addressed to “LEX," c/o Editor, Otago Witness, Dunediu.J Nightcaps asks: I lie capital value of my farm is £2400. The unimproved’ value is £llOO, and there is a- mortgage of £2OOO. What is the amount of land tax?— Answer. —No land tax is payable provided proper land returns have been furnished to the do p a r 1 me n t. FarmEr. —U nder Section 31 ef 11 lo Va 1 nat ion cf Land Act, if the owner of any land is not satisfied with the value of such land ,as fixed by the Assessment Court, he may, within 14 days after the hearing by the Assessment Court, give notice to 1 he Valuer-General that lie requires the capital value to be reduced io the amount specified in the notice or the land to he acquired on behalf cf Ilis Majesty at the sum specified in tlie notice. Widow. —If the purchase money is no! paid on Hi? due date fixed by tho agreement, application may he made by the ven lor to have the interest increased to the current rate of interest. I\. Ow-uka.- -A Y >••• -■ ■ • can make a will 1c avid ir all Ids p’upeily io m e of his children. On an pi lea i hm to the hi mu cine Court a judge iir his discretion, may vary the terms of 1 he will in favour of the children or widow of the- deceased Ja vi hi CK is y< u can prove to the p-aDsfaei on company you could sm-c*. esfully sue the case would have L.,n wry much stronger if your imbrications had been in writing.

Medico. —A marriage between persons within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity or affinity is absolutely null and void for ail purposes whatsoever. Territorial in Business. —The Defence Amendment Act, 1915, Section 8, provides that every person shall on the Ist clay of June in the year in which he attains the age of 25 years be drafted into the Reserve. J. C. —You are not bound to supply food and bedding for the bailiff. If you are imprisoned on a judgment summons the imprisonment does not cancel the debt. Ditches. —It is the duty of the county council to clean cut the watercourse. Reader asks: “I wish to deepen a drain that empies into my neighbour’s ditch. Before doing this I must deepen the drain for a distance of 20 chains. Can I compel my neighbour to contribute towards the expense?’ ’ ——Answer : You can make application under the Land Drainage Act to your neighbour for leave to make improvements to the drain. If your neighbour assents, you may lodge a deed of assentin the Lands Registry Office for the registration district in which the land is situate. If vour neighbour dissents to the application, the whole matter is referred to a magistrate and two assessors. Settler.— Under the- circumstances quoted in your letter the Stamp Department would claim on the whole property. (2) The estate duty would be £5. (3) The estate duty is not altered by the fact thatthere is a will.