ASSESSMENT COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144082, 29 April 1913, Page 2

ASSESSMENT COURT.

ASSESSMENT CODEC. i _____ . YESTERDAY’S SITTINGS. When the Assessment Court was resumed on Monday afternoon there mt considerable argument with reference to the railway reserve, the valuation of which Mr, Mills said was included, in the total valuation of Mr.'- King’s property. Mr. Johnstone, who appeared on behalf of the objector, said the railway reserve had previously been valued separately, and the ( first intimation they Had had that this course had not been followed this year whs when Mr. Mills gave his evidence. If the reserve, was included in the total valuation then there was very little difference between the" parties. It was agreed that the valuation of £2OO on the railway reserve and £305 on the shop property should stand, and evidence was then given in reference to Mr. King’s objection to a valuation of £6O on the garage in Brougham Street.

This was eventually reduced' to £42,

S. W, Shaw; property, situate tha South Road, and containing IB odd acres. Proposed valuation, £350. Mi - .'Johnstone; who appeared on behalf of the objector, said the property was in close proximity to. a number of .properties in connection with winch his Worship had heard objections, - and in which the valuations had been substantially reduced, one from £4OO to £2OO and another from £250 £l5O, He also pointed, out that the, borough valuation of the property last year woe £216. - -

W. Bewley valued- the property at £225 per acre. The land was Well suited for subdivision at some future time, but be estimated that about 5 acres would have to be sacrificed for roading purposes. ; ! Reginald H. George said, asone-or the executors ir. his. latq Hither's estate, he was interested in a section containing-a, little over an acre, and situate immediately opposite Mr, Shaw’s property. There were four cottages on the property, and there was still a piece available for building. It took some time to sell tile property. It was offered by auction, but failed to attract a bid, and it was ultimately sold privately for £995, iuctedmg the buildings. The sale was on 'he- \ half of an assigned estate, -/ v P. P. Cotkill valued the property a* £4150, this being at the rate of £226 per acre. Referring to the cottages mentioned by the previous, witness, he said they were worth £2OO each of anybody’s money, and then there was li acres of land. -■- ; ’ To Mr;' Johnstone: The Government , valuation of 1 Mr. Shaw’s .property was £3613, and the previous borough that for last year, was £216. - J. O. Davies said,he had valued the property on . behalf-, of Mr. Mills. He considered his-;valuation- of £4OO per acre was ,a low one. He thought if the section was put up for auction ( tomorrow it would realise £SOO. He gave evidence of a number of, sales in support of his valuation. . - ' • Mr. Mills contended that the valuation was a very reasonable one, and be asked that it should be sustaifaed. Ho quoted- several sales, which, he said, fully established the value that had been placed on -Mr. Shaw’s section. ; Mr. Johnstone , submitted that a strong case had been made out for re-: dilution. After the evidence he had called the value which- had been placed upon the property must be regarded as a speculative one. His Worship reduced 'the value to £225. . . The court then adjourned until Friday morning. _