FLAXBOURNE CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1428, 12 April 1905, Page 3

FLAXBOURNE CASE.

l 0 (Per Press Association.) 3t Blenheim, last night. io The hoaring of the case Clifford v. i, Minister of Bands, a claim of ;£835,000 in :, respect to the compulsory acquisition of tho Flaxbourne estate, some 25 miles from Blenheim, was resumed horo to day. This is tho fourth sitting of the Compensation 0 Court for this case. In February last, after r an oxtended Bitting, Mr Juatico Cooper, * Mr J. G. Wilson, and tho Hon. T. K. j MacDonald failed to agree on tho award, 1 and a fresh Court had been constituted, tho President on this occasion boing the I Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, and tho 1 assessors Mr Gilbert Anderson, of Christ- 1 church, for claimants, and Mr T. Crosse, of Hawke’s Bay, for the Ministor. Mr I Skerretc, of Wellington, with Mr H. I I Johnsone Connolly, appear for tho I claimant. Mr Sim, of Dunedin, with IDr Findlay and Mr MoOallum, for I respondent. Tho Judge and assessors I I have spent some days in viewing the | I property, which is to be valued as at tho I I time of tho proclamation in February, I I 1902. The questions of classification and I I area retained by the owners wore settled I I by a provious Court in Decombor last, j I The area of the owners* reservation is I I roughly 11,500 acres, and the area being I < taken by the Government is approximately I 45,700 acres. The function of Court on I ! this occasion is to fix the price to be paid, J and the evidence is on the same lines as I before. The witnesses so far are :A.S. I Biss, accountant for the owners j Peter I Hayes, Commissioner of Taxes, who was a I witness for the Minister ; Sir Geo. Clifford, I principal owner; and E. A. Weld, | Manager. / I