Assessment Court.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9028, 28 March 1898, Page 2

Assessment Court.

{Before Mr Bush.) j The Court sat this morning for the . purpose of hearing objsctions to the . valuations of property in the Birough.' Mr Miller appeared for the valuer, ' Mr T. W. Olark. NORTH WAED. Mr Bystrom objficted to the value placed on his property in the Waiotahi Orefik road, £12, as being excessive— Mr Clark said the house would easily let at 6s per week. A small shanfcy near the objector's property, which was falling to pieces, was let at 3s per week.—Valuation sustained. W. N. Clirno, £24, Tararu road. —

The objector stated that he had tried j to sell his property for £300, but! could not get £950 for it. There four rooms and a skillion, also outbuildings. He was offered 9s par wetek for the house, but wanted 10s a week for it two years ago. Ho did not want to let, but to sell it. His "property was larger than where Mr Eoulgrain used to live, which was rented at 14s per week.—Valuation reduced to £20. James 11. Ellis' allotment, Waiotahi Spur, £10.'—Objected to on the ground of excessive valuation.—Objector stated that his house could not be let except in the summer months, as there was practically no road in the winter. He did not think anyone else would live there. The house was not lin good order. It wanted entirely rebuilding. He had been living in it for 14 years.—Mr Clark said that Heenan's house was let at 7s per , week, but objector's was a better house and was only valued at 5s per week. He raised the value of the objector's : property according to the rent paid by' the tenants in Heenan's.—To the i Court: There were two residence sites. , The property was not worth £200.—

Valuation reduced to £7. Mr J. W. Poulgrain's allotment, Pollen street, £15,—Reduced to £12 by arrangement. ■ Kobert Smith objected that he was not the owner of allotment and building on Tararu Road, as it belonged to his wife.—Name of Harriet Smith to be inserted in lieu of objector's. ' Albert Bruce, Secretary to the Harbor Board, objected that certain allotments, the property of the Thames Harbor Board, were exempt from valuation, not being within the Borough boundary.—Mr Bruce elated that the Borough only had jurisdiction over land above highwater mark. —Mr Miller contended that the jurisdiction of the Borough extended to low water mark, and that, though the land belonged to the Harbor Board, the Borough could rate it.—Mr Bruce said the Borough Council would like to have the question settled, as to whether it could rate the Harbor Board or not,—Mr Bush thought that the ordinary foreshore would be exempt from rating.—Mr Miller quoted a case bearing on the subject—Wellington City Council v, Wellington Harbor Board—which showed that works for the improvement of any harbor are exempt, but not the unoccupied foreshore.—His Worship reserved his decision. Charles Waite, allotment Waiotahi Creek.—No appearance of objector.— Valuation sustained. . MIDDLE; WAED. Frederick Ashman, buildings, Queen street, £66.— Eeduced to £50 by arrangement. James Baggott. —property in Kirkstreet, reduced from £ 16 to £14; property in Pollsn street reduced from £36 to £26 by arrangement. Eliza Hanford, —JNo appearance of objector.—Valuation sustained John Grigs, allotment and building Pollen street, £65.—Objected to on ground that valuation is excessive.— Mr Grigg said the property was originally valued at £40, Last year, in consequence of there being an influx of population there was a demand *'or premises in Pollen street, and the valuation was raised to £50. This year, although there was an efflux of population, the amount was raised to £65. —Valuation su-tained. E. B. Hudson's property in Pollen street to be put in the name of James Hancock. Elizabeth Irvine's property in Pollen street —No appearance.—Valuation sustained. Andrew Lyster's name to be substituted for that of Mrs TrewheJla, for property in Karaka Road. Henry McDonald.—No appeai'anje. Valuation sustained. James Eenshaw's name to be substituted for Thomas Donovaa's, in ■espect of property in Kirkwood street. S. T. Whitehouse'e name to be lubstituted for J. Eenshaw's for allotnent 81, Albert street. Albert Brace, Borough Council Chambers, Public Library, and Fire Brigade Shed.—Properties struck out as not being ratable, being the property of the Borough. Emma Trembath, £40, allotment and buildings, Pollen street. — Mr Trembath stated that the premises were valued at £30 last year. He was getting £1 a week for it now. The first twelve months the tenant paid 15s per week —Valuation sustained. Francis Trembath, £50, allotment and building Pollen street;— Objector stated that though the prospects of the field were not so g.od now as they were last year, the property had been raised in value from £45 to £50. | Mr Clark said he raised the value beoause rents in Pollen street had risen. One of Miss Irvine's properties which was rated at £35 last year was let at £90 now. Mr Chapman/0 rent h.ai been i

MIDDLE' WARD.

Frederick Ashman, buildings, Queen street, £66.— Reduced to £50 by arrangement. James Baggott. —property in Kirkstreet, reduced from £16 to £14; i property in Pollsn street reduced from £36 to £26 by arrangement. Eliza Hanford, —JNo appearance of objector.—Valuation sustained John Grigs, allotment and building Pollen street, £65. —Objected to on ground that valuation is excessive.— Mr Grigg said the property was originally valued at £40, Last year, in consequence of there being an influx of population there was a demand *'or premises in Pollen street, and the valuation was raised to £50. This year, although there was an efflux of population, the amount was raised to £65.—Valuation su-tained. R. B. Hudson's property in Pollen street to be put in the name of James Hancock. Elizabeth Irvine's property in Pollen street —No appearance.—Valuation sustained. Andrew Lester's name to be substituted for that of Mrs TrewheJla, for property in Karaka Road. Henry McDonald.—No appeai'anje. Valuation sustained. James Renshaw's name to be substituted for Thomas Donovan's, in | respect of property in Kirkwood street. 8. T. Whitehouse's name to be substituted for J. Renshaw's for allotment 81, Albert street. Albert Brace, Borough CouboU i Chambers, Public Library, and Fire Brigade Shed.—Properties struck out as not being ratable, being the property of the Borough. Emma Trembath, £40, allotment and buildings, Pollen street. — Mr Trembath stated that the premises were valued at £30 last year. He was getting £1 a week for it now. The first twelve months the tenant paid 15s per week —Valuation sustained. Francis Trembath, £50, allotment and building Pollen street;— Objector stated that though the prospects of the field were not so g.od now as they were last year, the property had been raised in value from £45 to £50. Mr Clark said he raised the value beoause rents in Pollen street had risen. One of Miss Irvine's properties which was rated at £35 last year was let at £90 now. Mr Qhtpaian/s rented been

increased*by 2s a week and the tendency had been for renta to increase. The Sydney Cash Draj cry Co. was paying 30s per wook. Th»> present occupier of tlie premises might be getting them for 15s per week. There wps bo comparison between objector's ard Wood's shop. Tho latter were vslued at £87 and were old buildings. Objector's premises were almost n»»w and had greater advantages. Objector's premises would, let more readily than Mr Wood's. There were only three vacant houses when witness last made the valuation. Eeduced to £45, SOUTH WAED, W. 8. Wylie—Eeduced to £60 by arrangement. Theodore Wood, £30—Reduced to £25 by arrangement D. Stewart's name to be substituted for Southgate's in regard to property in Shoitland. Mrs Greenslade's name to be substituted for /times Bradshaw's for property in Richmond street. Thomas H. Crawford objected that ho was not the owner of the property, which was on a railway reserve— Objection sustained. It- B. Hudson objected to valuations. Arrangements had been made, by which some of the valuations remained the same, but one valued at £240 was reduced to £200. James Lougbiin, allotment and building, Pollen street. £25. -Eeduced by arrangement to £20. Mrs Eeddish, property in Grey street.—Objector stated that she was not the owner of the property. She thought it "• a great piece of ''presumption" that lier name had been put on the list in place of her husband's —Objeetion^ustained. Albert Eobins, allotment and buildings, Pollen street, £76.—N0 appearance of objector.—Valuation sustained. Albert Bruce, engine-shed, Shortland.—Objection sustained, property belonging to Borough Council. E. Tetley.—Objection that property belonged to Fred Tetley, and net to objector.—Valuation sustained. (Left sitting,)