Claiming Much and GettingLittle.
Is this world it is very seldom people get all they want. The recent sitting of the Land Compensation Court at Masterton afford a proof of this. This Court hold its sittings to hear and determine certain claims made by seven claimants for land taken for the extension of the Welliugton Napier Hallway, Kopuaranga Section, between Masterton and Woodville, and for the injury affecting their several properties thereby. The summary of claims and awards is as follows A. Stewart, claim L 195, award LI. 12 18s 9d ; Evan McKenzie, claim L 582 19s, award Llsl 10s ; E. and It. McKenzie, claim L 259 12s, award LB4 5s ; D. McKenzie, claim L2C3, award LlOl 7a 6d ; Mr Dorset’s trustee, claim L 528 15s, award L 227 ; E. McKenzie, claim L 255 9s, award LBO 10s ; It. McKenzie, claim LIOS award L3O. Total claims, L 2181) 15s,
In round numbers, and not taking into account the shillings and pence, it will be noted that these seven landowners claimed a sum of L2IBB by way of compensation for portions of their lands taken for the railway. What they were actually awarded amounted to a sum of L 790, or considerably less than one third of the compensation which they had demanded. Now, we do not think that in a matter like this the Land Compensation Court would act unfairly. The claimants had able legal counsel to represent them. There were assessors alike for the Government and the claimants. There was a well known judge to deal out justice in the matter to all concerned. This being the case we cannot help being forced to the conclusion that in this business the claimants demanded an exorbitant amount of compensation—far more indeed than was either right or just. In short, “ they opened their mouths too wide ” altogether, and so they have been shut up by getting less than a third of what they asked for. We fancy that the verdict of impartial men will be that the claimants were too greedy, and that the result served them right.
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Bibliographic details
Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1790, 3 February 1886, Page 2
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347Claiming Much and Getting- Little. Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1790, 3 February 1886, Page 2
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