VALUATION OF LANDS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5334, 24 January 1906, Page 3

VALUATION OF LANDS.

(Clutha Leader.) It is fair to assume that much exception will be taken to the valuations placed on lands throughout the Clutha County if the bitter cry of the alleged over-valued landholder counts for anything at all. The wail of over-valuation has not been so loud just in the immediate neighborhood of Balclutha, but if threatening. 1 ? count for much the Revision Court will have a lengthy sitting. Up Tapanui way, according to the Tapanui Courier, values have in some cases been doubled during the past five years. If this is really so, then the valuations of some five years ago must have been somewhat light or there must be some adequate argument in favor of the Land Valuation Officers putting up valua- • tions of farm lands to double their former rating value. We do not think that the officers of the Valuation Department are wilfully and Avith malice aforethought bent on putting inflated values on freehold lana. That they may, in cases, be mistaken in their judgment is quite possible. If so a revision court will make all clear. Our contemporary quotes the case of a farm which has in recent years been raised from £4 to £7 per acre and then to £16 at the last valuation a few weeks ago. The trustee in the estate objected strongly to the £16 per acre valuation, and the figure was ultimately fixed at £14: — exactly double the former valuation. There can be no special reason advanced for doubling the value of this particular property. Stock has not advanced in price and grain is only at a paying point so there seems to be a valid argument, looking at it from a purely freeholder's point of view, that particular instances can be quoted where values are fixed out of proportion to the surroundings.