NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1537, 5 September 1912, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

VALUATION OF-LAND. ME, MASSEY'S BILL. The Valuation of Land Amendment BilV introduced by the Hon. W. F. Massey, was circulated yesterday. Its principal purpose is to amend definitions in the principal Act.: The definition of "improvements" in Section 2 of the princi-; pal Act, is repealed and the following! substituted:—"'lmprovements' on landmeans all work done or material used nts any time on or for the benefit of tho land by the expenditure of capital or! labour by any. owner or occupier thereof in so far as the effect of tho work done, or material used is to increase Hie value of lnnd, and the benefit thereof is unexhausted at the timo of valuation; but. does not' include work done or material used on or for the benefit of the land by, tho Crown or by any statutory public body except so far as the eame has been, paid for by tho owner or occupier b,t ; way of direct contribution." Under the present law an area not ex. ceoding twenty-five acres planted for_shelter or ornamental purposes with Native bush or Native trees is not "laud" for the purposes of the "Act. It is now proposed, to remove the restriction of area entirely. , ' Tho definitions of "unimproved value" and "value of improvements" in (he principal Act are repealed, and the following substituted-.—"'Unimproved value' of any land moans the sum which tho owner's estate or interest, therein, if un-. incumbered by any mortgage or other charge (hereon, might be expected' to realise nt Hie time, of valuation if offered for sale on such reasonable terms and conditions as n bona ndc'sellor might beexpected to impose, and if no improvements (as hereinbefore, defined) had'been, niedo on the slid land: 'Value of inu provements' means the added value which nt Hie date of valuation the improve-: inents give to the land."'

A WELLINGTON BILL. The Local Bills Committee yestcrdnv reported to the, House 'on the Wellington, and Knrori Sanitation and Water Supply Bill, recommending that it be allowed to proewd. The .Bill is intended to bringportions of the borough of Karori under the jurisdiction of the Wellington City Council {or water supply and drninaco purposeo,