SALE OF PROPERTY TO CHURCH

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24911, 26 June 1946, Page 2

SALE OF PROPERTY TO CHURCH

APPLICATION REFUSED BY COMMITTEE

An application to sell a property In Riccarton was refused by the Christchurch Urban Land Sales Committee yesterday because of excessive bidding when the property was auctioned. John Deans and Langford Park Symes sought permission to sell a house and three sections, of a total area of 1 rood 35.8 perches, with a frontage of three chains in Riccarton road, to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch. Who wished to purchase the property on behalf of the Riccarton parish. The price asked was £2475. For the vendor, Mr L. Baker had valued the property at £1685. The committee must be consistent in its decisions, and had no alternative but to refuse the application, said the chairman (Mr L. B. Freeman)» who suggested that the parties should negotiate for a price comparable with the value.

For the vendor Mr K. W. Walton submitted that the property had a special value as a shop site as well as a special value to the church, and the representatives of the purchaser had known that when they bid at the auction sale, but were prepared to pay for the property as it was needed for extensions to the Riccarton Catholic School.

Mr E. T. Layburn. who appeared for the purchaser, said that the attendance at the school had doubled during the last five years, and the church had been seeking property for extensions.