The Land Tax Assessment Court.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3327, 21 August 1879, Page 2

The Land Tax Assessment Court.

COUNTY OF THAMES)

H. Kenrick, Esq., Judge of the Assessment Court under tlie Land Tax Act, sat at the Court House, Grahamstown, to day for the purpose of hearing and determining all objections to the-assessment? of properties in the Count/ of Thames in connection with the Land Tax; Mr B< McLean, Deputy - Commissioner, was The following business was disposed of:— '' , S. Jackson, solicitor, Auckland,' property at Paeroa ; assessed at £7282. Mr cßrassey for objector, said the land was assessed much above its. value, and Thomas Kussell was the owner of a moiety. Col. Fraser, sworn, deposed—l have seen, the land, near Paeroa, owned by Messrs Jackson and Russell, and consider its outside ralue to be £3 per acre. I bought land - alongside of it lately for £1 per acre. This is with reference to the 100 acres valued at £30 per acre. I cannot say anything about the township land, which is a portion of the block. The land is in its natural state of swamp, and titree.

S. C. Macky, sworn, deposed—l am one of the valuers under the Land Tax. I valued the property in question at £30 per acre, which I consider a fair value. > By Mr Brassey—il hare no experience of land valuing, but I know good agricultural land. ' ' ' The Court reduced the'valuation of the suburban land to £5 per acre, and 'confirmed the valuation of the towu portion of the* block. ' ; F. Tetley, publican, 604 acres at Pararahu. ' Net-value, £1260. Objector stated his share of the. block waa 252 .acres. The Commissioner t stated < that Übject'or and, another held ' property Between them undivided. Valuation, sustained. ' '

Union Sash and Door Company, Wangamata Blocks No. 1, 2, and 3, containing 5206 acres. Net value, £6506. Keduced by Commissioner to £5206. Richard Monk, manager of the company, sworn, deposed—The land itself is valueless, being not worth more than Is per acre. The company has been offered better land nearer to the mill for 6s per acre. Last May I purchased threje blocks for between 5s and 6s per acre. : By Mr McLean—l would not takp the fee simple of the land without the lisnbcjr for nothing. / . "~ ! S. C. Mackay, sworn, deposed—l valued the property referred to. 'There is a great deal of j»ood kauri oh it Ido nob consider that the valuation at all out of the way. I valued 'the timber and land at £1 T>er acre.

P ; By Mr Monk—The land is not valued at 10s per acre in the company's books. ■ Captain James Stonp, *28,693' acres at Kauaeranga Valley. Net, yaluo £30,938. Objectioa was that land was over valued £24,938. . , . C. J. Stone, sworn, deposed—T purchased the land in question for £8,000 or £4,000. The wliolo value of tin* pi-operty including the booms is £25,000. I believe that the land is not worth £6,000. Without the bush the land is worth nil.'

E. Monk deposed that the land was hot wortlr £4000 includinK timber. He, had offered Mr Stone about £17,000 for the land and all improvements 2 years ago. ". ■".„•.! ;i-.iHen.ry';- Vernonj . swornv s;dflpbs^aA-I Talned tjie land, ,in ques.tjon, ai^d have done so on previous -'occasions^'" I consider that the valuation- is a fair! one. Some of the land is fit fof agricultural purposes. A great deal of the land' if cat up into SOOacre; farms vcould fetch front: £2: to £? per acre. The Borough Council bonghjt some land adjoining for £4 per acre. '. By Mr Stone : All the provisions are taken to the bush by packers. J. E. Stone deposed that at the outsid? there was only«IOO acres of flat agriculjtural land.

Eeduced to £7,170.

Schappe and Anseane, 7000 acres at Kopowai, assessed at £5250. Valuation excessive. Valuation was sustained after Mr Vernon had given evide?ice. ' . Key. Kobt. Borrows (Church .Missionary Society), 20a- acres, town allotments in Puriri, assessed at £820. Valuation excessive. No appearance." Confirmed. John Hudson,. 149 acres of auburban land at Totara Point, assessed at £4.10s per acre. No appearance. Confirmed. Benjamin Gilmer, secretary • Mercury Bay Sawmill Company, 11,132 .acres of timber land ; net value, £8250. Reduced to £2150 by consent of the Commisi sioner. .. Union Sash and Door Company.—The

valuation of several other blocks wai reduced to 5s per acre. W. Earl, settler, 711 acres at Pukiwhau; net value, £711. The objection, was to the effect that objector only owned the share of one native owner. Evidence was produced to the effect tbat Mr Earl was the registered owner of the land, and the valuation was* confirmed.

This concluded the business.