Tuapeka Times AND QOLDFIELOS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1878. "MEASURES,NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume XI, Issue 751, 27 February 1878, Page 2

Tuapeka Times AND QOLDFIELOS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1878. "MEASURES,NOT MEN."

At the Assessment Court tor the Borough of Lawrence, held on Monday, no fewer than seventy objections to the valuation list were dealt with. The total rateable value represented by these seventy property holders amounted to close upon £2400, or fully one-fifth of the whole valuation. When we state that this £2400 was rednced by the Court by about £550 or close upon 25 per cent., we think it will be at once admitted that something must be wrong with the valuation. For instance, we find the properties valued at £100 reduced to £40 ; £35 to £18 ; £16 to £4 ; £24 to £8 ; £20 to £8 ; £80 to £56 ; £45 to £25 ; £30 to £9 ; £15 to £6 j £6 to £1 ; and so on, thus showing a great disparity between the valuers' figures and the sums allowed by the Coiirt. ' It would be very difficult to tell upon what principle the valuers were in many instances guided in striking their valuations. The Rating Act, of 1876, is very plain on the subject, and they had no business to depart from it in any way. The Judge of the Court could only allow himself to be guided by the evidence laid before him, and it was the duty of the Valuers to prove their case, and show that their valuations were fair and equitable. Instead, however, of being prepared to do this they had no evidence whatever to produce — not a single witness had they in readiness to substantiate their valuations. The consequence of this was that large reductions were allowed in nearly every case where an objection had been laid. In a good many cases, we believe, allowances were made that would not have been upheld had the Valuers come properly prepared to establish their own valuations. The evidence given by several propertyowners of the value of their properties could very easily have been upset — the values given being absurdly low. We guess that if doublo the sum were offered for some of the properties referred to they could not be purchased for the money. ' It is to be hoped that when the County Assessment Courts are held the County Valuers will be better prepared to sustain their estimates of the value of County property than the Valuers of the Borough of Lawrence showed themselves to be of the Borough property. ;