ON SOMME PARADE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 221, 18 September 1928, Page 8

ON SOMME PARADE

HOUSES RATTLED BY TRAFFIC OWNERS THINK VALUES TOO HIGH Although possessing a view of the river, a number of residents on tne river bank at Aramolio ao not Wink that this advantage equal to the estimate placed upon tnt/ir properties by the Government valuer. At the Assessment Court which resumed its sitting yesterday before Mr J. G. L. Hewitt. B.M, and Messrs E. A. Campbell (Government representative) and E. ±’. Liffiton (local representative) as assessors, general eviEjence was given by objectors regarding valuations in Aramolio. Mr C. P. Brown appeared on behalf of objectors and Mr D. P. Varcoe, with Mr L. Pleasants, for the Valuation Department. During the 11 or 12 years he hadresided on the Btewart Estate at Aramolio, said H. Halligan four or five houses had been built on the estate. A disadvantage of living on the river bank was the tremendous increase of heavy motor traffic due to the quarrying of metal on the hills behiiuj- Aramolio. Funerals were aslo increasing in number every day. Owing to the town planning scheme property owners were debarred from using their grounds for shopping purposes and, in any case, the locality would not be a good shopping centre. Witness heard that 30 acres had; been bought and they were going to have a gaol in the locality. They only wanted a hospital and an asytum and they would be well set up. (Laughter). A further disadvantage. continued witness was that, with a family of two, 12s a week at least, was expended on tram fares.

The attendance at the Aramoho School showed no increase for the last five years, said A. Pepper, secretary of the school committee. For the last quarter the roll was 333 and in 1923 it was 335. Witness considered, that all properties had been valued at 25 and 50 per cent above their real value. Change to Industrial Centre F. Pepper slated that Aramoho was previously a good residential area but it had, been turned into an industrial centre. This had had the effect of depreciating property considerably. Owing to the amount of traffic along Bonime Parade, said Frederick Nalder, his house rattled; considerably. In fact, the vibration was such that the lids were shaken off the pots. The values on sections back from the river bank had been lowered and on the river bonk they had been raised. What furi asked witness. “We have heaid some very interesting evidence wh’ich wou’d lead one to think that Aramolio lias been going back for years,” remarked Mr Varcoe. Values Considered Uniform Evidence was given by Mr Pleasants who stated that, in his opinion tiie valuations were quite uniform. The difference between the side streets and Somme Parade was perfectly fair. He was also supported in this view by sales. In Somme Parade a property sold for £275 was valued at £2OO. in 1925 £2OO was paid for a section which was valued at. £lBO. Another section for which £2lO was paid in 1924 was also valued at £lBO. On the other day witness made a valuation of £l6O on a property for which £25() had been paid. Tn the side street a property sold in 1926 for £l5O was valued at £l4O. Similar sales at a higher figure than the valuation were quoted by witness who went on to say that it. was ridiculous to state that no buildings had boon erected during the last few years. He ha/1 made numerous valuations for Government loans. An objection to the valuation placet 1. upon his shop in Somme Parade was made by Charlton Pearce. Business premises were in excess of requirements in Aramoho, said witness and properties had therefore depreciated in value. There w pre 40 shops in the district and 400 houses. Witness occupied the last of a string of 35 shops in Somme Para<k*. After hearing further evidence, the Court was adjourned until this morning to enable an inspection nf the properties to be made.