BOROUGH VALUATION, 1883.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 4918, 21 November 1882, Page 3

BOROUGH VALUATION, 1883.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — At the last general meeting of the Borough Council an important discussion took place on the subject of the valiiition for 18S3, and a great diversity of opinion was expressed as to how the appointment should be made, with the result that the question should come up for discussion tonight. A motion, seconded pro forma, was proposed, That the valuation should be made by the same valuators a3 for 1882. But this plan did not appear to meet with approval ; aud it is not to be wondered at by any one who has taken the trouble to compare some of the valuations, for it is an uudeniable fact that in many cases the valuations are either the merest guess work, or the result of favoritism or prejudice. I have compared some of the valuations, and find that the properties in some cases are worth double the rental value assessed, and in other cases a positive injustice is done by over valuing. But you may ask why th^re was so little work for the Assessment Court • this year. My answer is, that it is not likely that one will appeal to have either hi 3 own or his neighbours valuation increaied ! while others— especially as the R.M. will not allow cost 3of appeal, even where an appeal is upheld — would be no better off, as was the case with one who this year had a valuation reduced nearly 50%, and then was left over-valued plus costs ! My remedy is, Sir, to call for tenders for the valuation, and take care that the old valuation is not accessible ; in any case, let the responsibility be on the shoulders of one individual only. There are many other points involved in this question, such as the press of work in the Municipal offices ; but I must not encroach too much on your valuable space. — I am, &c, Equity. Wanganui, Nov. 21st, 1882.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council will be held to-night at 7 o'clock.

The well-known musician Angelo Forrest will favor Wauganui with two recitals at the Princess's Theatre in the course of next week.

The Patea Borough Council invite competitive designs for council offices to be erected at Patea, and particulars of which can be obtained on application to the Borough Engineer. Plans must be forwarded by Monday, 4th December.

The first yearly meeting of the Naval Brigade will be held on Wednesday week. All members must be in attendance, at the Drill Hall, on the occasion, when the balance-sheet will be presented as showing the- position of the Brigade. The provisions of the new volunteer regulations will be taken into consideration with a view to adoption.

The Union Boating Club have received, through Mr Bush of Alpha House, the distinguishing colors of the Club, which will be supplied to members on application to him. The colors are of the well-known Oxford pattern, the badge being a blue ribbon with white band running down the centre, and specially made to order for the Club. The badge will be worn on a straw hat.

Considerable annoyance was caused today to those who have to depend on the water supply to drive their machinery, for the water Was not at half pressnre, and work was to some extent at a standstill. Cutses both loud and deep were for once muttered over the heads of the Corporation and the uncertainty of the water supply. An Accident to the main was the cause of the failure of supply.

The flagstaff hill presented an unusual appearance yesterday afternoon, owing to the old flagstaff being removed. The new one is now in course of erection, and will probably be completed sufficiently for signalling by to-night. People in town seem to have missed the old staff very much, as they had only ,to look to see whether any vessels were about to arrive. At present there is no indication of anything of the sort, and during the day business people have been anxiously enquiring all over town as to whether the Huia .for instance had arrived, had crossed the bar, or was even in sight ; but with no satisfactory result, and they long once more to see the flag suspended from the mast.

Mr Gibbs is carrying out the arrangements for the Olde Englishe Fancye Fayre to be held in the Drill Hall in Christmas week in aid of the Fire Brigade Building Fund. Professionals are being engaged to carry out the scenic and mechanical effects, and in the bewitching dresses of " Ye olden times " will be found sufficient attraction to allure the •people of Wanganui to witness a semblance of business and domestic life as it existed in England some centuries ago. The old signs attached to the antique stalls will also form a picture both interesting and instructive, while it is to be hoped that, at the conclusion of the Fayre, the Fire Brigade will be in a position to notify that the handsome and useful building, which they are now erecting in St. Hill Street, will be "free from all encumbrance."

Wanganui just now is pestered with several mendicants of the intelligent vagrant class, who ply their calling between Ingestre and Glasgow Streets — out of the usual beat of the policeman. Sometimes they present a letter detailing their hardships (which are always of a heart-rending nature), and sometimes they depend upon their own eloquence. They prey principally upon the wife of the labouring man— who is always ready to sympathise, because she generally knows the '♦ walk that- cost a meal " — and he invariably succeeds m galling her. The Wanganui mendicant is a strong, healthy, lazy,drunken fellow, with a starving wife and family, whose condition is a powerful advertisement to his trade. But he is a public nuisance nevertheless, and now that the police do not seem to have much, else to do, perhaps they would turn the attention to him. Two or three months on the sandhills would do the vagrant a world of good.

This (Tuesday) morning at the B.M. Court, before- R. Ward, Esq., R.M., Mrs O'Brien applied for a protection order against her husband, Andrew O'Brien, and also to have him bound over to keep the peace. Mrs O'Brien stated that her husband came into the house about 3 or 4 o'clock on Wednesday morniog and said, " I have you by myself now, and I have a good mind to knock your brains out." He had behaved very cruelly to her, and had never been home at night for three months, but had spent his time with unfortunate girls. He came into bhe house on Monday, and took a kettle of boiling water and said he would scald her, so that she would not be able to appear at Court against him. She had been married three years, and had two children. There had been no food in the house since Friday, and they had been dependent on the charity of their neighbours. She had never given him any provocation for his conduct towards her. He had been abusing her for the last twelve months, and has left her and the children without food on several occasions. His Worship said that it was beyond the power of the Act to grant a protection order, as she was not in employment or in the possession of money. He deeply sympathised with her, and as soon as she was iv the receipt cf an income she might then apply for the order. As it was, her husband would be bound over to keep the peace for six months, in two sureties of £1C each and himself in £20.