JOHNSTONE-STREET LAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 7 March 1930, Page 5

JOHNSTONE-STREET LAND.

PETITION FOR EXCLUSION. FROM BOROUGH RATING AREA. A commission, adjourned from the Courthouse, sat in the Borough Council Chamber this morning for tho purpose of hearing tho petition of Mrs M. G-. Lees of Masterton, for tho exclusion from the Borough of Masterton and inclusion in the Masterton County Council 120 acres of land on tho eastern side of the borough adjoining Johnston Street. An objection was lodged by the Borough Council, which, should tho commission decide to grant the petition, asks as an alternative, that the land on the other side of Johnstone Street should also bo excluded. The members of the Commission were Air .T. Miller, S.AI. (chairman), Air 11. W. C. ACacintosh, Commissioner for Crown Lands and Air E. P. Fowler, district valuer.

Air C. C. Marsack represented petitioner, Mr A. C. Alajor for the executors in the estate of E. Hirchberg and for Air AI. Bond, and the Public Trustee for tho executors in the estate of A. J. Hirchberg. Air McKenzie Douglas appeared for tho Masterton Borough Council.

Air Marsaek, for the petitioner, said that the main grounds upon which tho petition rested were that, the area of land for the present generation at least, was unsuitable for sub-division, and as a farming proposition it was impossible owing to the heavy rates. There had been little or no development in the vicinity aud it was not a practical plan to cut up the land as there would bo no demand for the sections.

• The petitioner, Margaret G. Lees, said that she was the only elector in the Masterton Borough in the area. She stated that the property did not enjoy any of the Borough services. The land was leased but the lease expired this year it was not known if it would be renewed or not. The land, she said, could not be remuneratively used if the lease was not renewed, while in the borough.

To Air Douglas petitioner said that it was not capable of being cut up for building sites as the sections could not be sold. She understood that the Education Department had purchased a section in the vicinity of her property but said that there were no more children going from the district to the Central School than there were several years ago. She thought that tho school was proposed owing to the overcrowding of the town schools, and not as any indication of development in the district.

Air Douglas said that the land had been in the borough since 1577, and that it was necessary that room should be left for the expansion of the borough. He understood that ether owners of land on the outskirts of the town intended to petition for eyclpsion if the presc-; ono wag successful. Donald John Cameron, farmer, said that the only purpose the land could be put to waif that of farming. He thought that it was too early Jo sub-divide the land. The sections could 2»t s° ld at a payable price and there was .Htie or no demand for them in the vicinity. Prior to tho commencement of the sitting the Commissioners and Council made an inspection of petitioners property. _ At tho time of going to press 0 inquiry was still proceeding.