ASSESSMENT COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 460, 2 July 1902, Page 2

ASSESSMENT COURT.

BOROUGH OF GISBORNE.

(Before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., and Messrs F. Harris and Siovwright.) The Assessment Court for tho Borough of Gisborne mot at ten o'clock yesterday, and complotod their labors early in tho afternoon. Section 134, Gladstone road, 00ft frontago, 166 ft deep, capital valuo X 4460, unimproved value XB9GO, improvements XSOO. Mr E. G. Matthews, who appeared for objoetor, Baid that tho section was in tho same block as Mr Good’s, and was occupied by Messrs Garrott, G. Smith, and others, and being a contrc section, was worth loss than Mr Good’s, which was 1 valued at XGB a foot. Ho asked that ' tho valuo should bo reduced from £6O to XSO. i A. F. Matthews doposed that tho valuo t of tho section in quostion was about Xsoa I foot. Mr Good’s section was valued at i X 63, and the reduction from X 63 to XSO • was a fair one as between corner and centre sections. He was sure tho section , would not bring more 'll an XSO per foot in open market. It was not so valuable as ' Adair Bros.’ section on tho corner of i Gladstone road and Lowe street. John Coleman stated that the centre sections were worth about 20 per cent, less than corner onos. Mr Matthews' section was worth about £OO. Mr Good gave a ' high price for his section, beeauso his leaso was up, aud ho wished to securo it for business purposes. lan S. Simeon, Government Yaluor, said tho Argyll property had been bought for X‘12,500, but tho buildings were condemned. The prieo for the land was at the rate of XBO to X9O per foot. Good's property had been bought for £5600. By Mr Matthews : The corner section in a block was always more valuable. He would put X 5 lees on tho next section. Adair’s corner section was valued at X3IOO, unimproved ; with 40 feet frontage, it camo to X7l a foot. Tho Bank of Now Zealand was valued at X 45. It had a depth of 110 feet, but had only one frontage. Matthews’ section was more valuable than the Bank of Now Zealand, as from Good's corner to Morgan’s waß the most valuable portion of the business part of the town. R. D. B. Robinson stated X6O was a fair valuation for section 134. From Peel street to Lowe street was considered tho best business portion o£ the town. Ho believed section 184 would bring X6O if put in the market. He thought X 63 was a fair valuation for Good's, and X 3 was the right difference in vaiue between the corner section and Mr Matthews’ section. By Mr Matthews: He was not interested ns Town Clerk in keeping tho Government valuations up. Adair’s section was worth about X 65, and was ovor-valuod at X7l. -v W. Gaudin stated that as propertieb*£}~ the main street were selling X6O per foot would probably be obtained for section 134. He did not consider the unimproved value of Matthews' section to be worth any more than that of tho Bank of New Zealand. The assessment of the Bank property at X 45 per foot was altogether too low compared with Adairs’, Qood’s and Matthews’ seotions. By Mr Matthews : The difference between the corner and centre seotions would bo from to XlO per foot. Mr Barton said that the Bench wore of opinion that the valuation should be sustained. They were also of opinion that tho value fixed for the Bank of New Zealand section was far too low in comparison with other sections. This concluded the business, and before the Court closed, the Chairman made praiseworthy reference to tbo courtesy shown by the Deputy Valuer General throughout the proceedings. The very great assistance that ho had given had greatly helped the Bench, and the latter were pleased with the fair manner in which Mr Campbell had met the objectors. It had been the means of saving a considerable amount of time. When they commenced there was every indication that the work would take four days to get through, but through the efforts of Messrs Campbell and Simson, it had been reduced to a little over a day. Mr Sievwright added a few words, complimenting the District Valuer on his work. He was extremely pleased that property in the Borough was held in such favor, and he was glad that the valuation had been so splendidly adjusted. fully anticipated that they would be thre* or four days dealing with the objections. Mr Barton : It certainly looked a veryformidable list. Mr Campbell said that it gave him pleasure to know that the Bench appreciated the work of the Valuation Department. His duties were not always of a pleasant order, but wherever it was possible he endeavored to meet objectors. He was always willing to accept a fan valua:ionin order to avoid bringing the settlers nto Court, and the Department only wanted to obtain an equitable adjustment tf values. Mr Simson also thanked the Bench for heir appreciation of his services. He had mdeavoredto conduct the valuation to the test of his ability. Mr Barton : The Bench are satisfied /ith than, Mr Simson.