COMPENSATION COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9385, 6 November 1908, Page 3

COMPENSATION COURT.

. --■ . — ~« . — THE CUSTOMS HOUSE SITE CLAIM. COURT AWARDS £20,000. His Honor Mr Justice .Denniston, accompanied b 3' Messrs M'Kerrow and Friedlander, assessors, at the Compensation' Court this . morning, gave judgment in regard to the claim by Messrs Macdonald, Macfarlane and Archer in respect to compensation for land at the eastern corner of Woreeister Street and Cathedral Square, taken by the Government for a site for a Customs House ,and Government offices. Mr T. G. Russell, with him Mr Cassidy, appeared for the Crown, and Mr Beswick for the claimants. The Government offered £10,500 for the property, and the owners claimed £26,353. . , His Honor gave the Court's judgment as follows : — The /Court had agreed to award the claimants £20,000 aa the value of the land, and to that would be added £SBO 17s 5d intoreft on the sum awarded at 5 per cent from the day of taking up to to-day. The assessors'' feerf'would be 15 guineas each for each of the two days of the hearing. After some discussion it was agreed that counsel for both parties eliould fix. the assessing of costs during the luncheon adjournment. THE BRANCH POST OFFICE. The case, James Clegg (Mr Beswick) v. The Minister of Public Works (M>Russell^ was then taken, j In opening for the claimant Mr Beswick said that the claim was in respect of property in Lower High Street, with 62ft frontage to High Street, and 50ft to Tuam Street. The j property had been secured for a branch ! post office, and the claim was for £100 j per foot frontage to High Street, £750 for the building, and £500 for disturbance of business. Clegg had sold his business since, and it had been transferred to "Tim-ant. The Government had offered £4500, and Clegg claimed £7450. He called James Clegg, perambulator maker, who said that the site was the bestin Christchurch for his business. He sold the business on August 6 to a Timaru firm. The building was in fairly good order when he left it. In cross-examination, witness said that he had authorised an agent to make an offer to the Government before negotiations were entered into, but he would have required twelve months in the premises bore leaving. His instructions to the agent were verbal, and the offer was for £6000. A letter was read from the Department to witness* dated April 16, which stated that witness would not be called upon to leave the premises until Augus^ 1. Witness did not sell his business at once, because he was undecided. The Government gave him ample notice. He did not leave until September. The first steps he took to get rid of the business Afere in August. He did not do so earlier because ho had tried to get premises. Walter William Hedges, perambulator manufacturer, said that he and his brother had bought Clegg's business. They wished to retain the premises that Clegg had occupied. If they had had the. premises for ten or twelve months it would have bexm worth £500 to them. To Mr Russell: They had intended to start in Timaru as soon as Clegg's business was bought. To his Honor: He had not intended to carry en business in Christchurch. Charles Henry Cox, builder, gave evidence that he had in July agreed to buy Clegg's business, provided he could find suitable premises in which to carry on the business, but he failed to find any. Had he been able- to carry on in the same building for five or c<even years it would have paid him to have given Ciegg £500 or £600 more. • William J. Hopkins, land agent, said, that he had heard about a post office being required and then approached Clegg, wlio said that he would take £6000 for the property, with a, proviso that he should have twelve months in which to go out. In making the offer to the Government witness omitted to include the reservation regarding the twelve months. He had valued the property and considered that 62 feet fronting on High Street was worth £100 per foot, and that the building was worth £600. Charles Henry Bowker, valuer, said that he valued the High Street frontage at £100 per foot, the building at about £650 and the party-wall at £50. He based his valuation on sales in the locality. Victor. Harris, valuer, said that he valued the Jand at £100 a foot and the building at £750. It contained a strong-room that was remarkably good. To Mr Russell : He would be prepared to buy land there at £100 a foot merely as a speculation. Most of the traffic was down that side of the street. Albert Freeman said that he valued the land at £90 a foot to High Street, the buildings at £650 and the partywall at £50. He also assessed the disturbance to business at £500. Robert B. Walker, land agent, said that he valued the frontage to High Street at £105 per foot, owing to the section being a corner one. William Smith, land agent, said that he had valued the frontage at £90 per foot and the building at £750. He considered £500 a fair sum for disturbance of business. The trend of business was going in that direction. Witness said, in answer to Mr Russell, that if he were offered the choice of Wreaks's building in Manchester Street or Clegg's property, he would prefer T This crosecT me caw xw c^ari&aa^