Flaxbourne Estate

Southland Times, Issue 19492, 24 February 1905, Page 2

Flaxbourne Estate

COMPENSATION COURT CANNOT AGREE.

Per United Press Association.

BLENHEIM, Feb. 23.

When the Compensation Court reassembled this afternoon Mr Justice) Cooper announced that its members had been unable to agree upon an award in the Flaxbourne case. The claim was £335,000 and the highest valuation on the side of the Minister for Lands was £146,000, so I hat the difference at issue was nearly £200,000. After carefully- considering the principles upon which compensation should bo assessed and the evidence adduced he arrived at an amount which, in his opinion, was the full compensation within the provisions of the Act. That amount was very much in excess cf the amount which the Goyernmcnt’s assessor was of opinion should be awarded and very much below the amount which the claimant’s assessor thought should be i aid and as neither assessor felt he cculd agree with his (his Honour’s) assessment, in justice to the claimants lus Honour could not reduce the amount he thought they were entitled to and in justice to respondent he could not agree with the claimant's assessor. Under these circumstances: he had to announce that the court’ was unable, by a majority, to agree upon an award and he discharged the assessors. It is understood that a fresh court will be constituted immediately.