The Evening Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1870.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 303, 30 December 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1870.

As a good deal of needless irritation is often felt on the subject of the assessment of city property, it is well that it should be known that now is the time for the discontented to make their troubles known. As the Collector is the unhappy instrument in bringing ihis form ot direct taxation to bear on the pockets of citizens, he naturally come 3in for a large share of unpleasant handling, and when, in addition to his functions as Collector, he bears the repute of being also the assessor, the fons et oriyo mali, he is accepted as a very proper person on whom a citizen dunned for rates, should pour forth the vials of his wrath, ilaving.it is said, a direct interest in augmenting the valuation of property, because thereby his percentages are increased, any imagined wrong in over-valuation is at; once attributed to him, and to a natural desire to benefit himself. It should be known, however, that it is the City Board, resolving itself into a Finance Committee of the whole, that values the property of the citizens ; that in that capacity and for that purpose the Commissioners are now sitting every evening ; that information as to alterations in property is afforded to them by the Collector, but that the members of the Board personally examine aud test the value of this information, and take on their owd shoulders the entire responsibility. It i.s therefore to the Board, and not to Mr. Dkldams, that the dissatisfied should address their plaint; and as this enquiry is now proceeding in Canada Buildings,-we would recommend those who feel aggrieved, aud who consider that they have been illtreated in the past, to guard against dissatisfaction in the future. <j£ course there will be further opportunity for appealing after the Assessment List shall have been published ; but, now. before the rule ia actually struck, is the better time for reviewing past assessment. We give thi;s timely advice confident that by many it will not be taken, and that the Press wi'l again be made the vehicle of unavailing grumbling, and the Police Court the sceue of profitless litigation, in consequence of the simple indolence of people in neglecting to take timely care. The most foolish course of all is to try to cherish ill feeling against the Collector, who, if he was not the most amiable ol mankind, and overflowing with the milk of human kindness, would be perpetually in a fever from the unreasonable complaints of neglectful citizens.