TE ARAI ESTATE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2227, 2 November 1907, Page 1

TE ARAI ESTATE.

COMPENSATION COUNT SITTING. LESSEE’S CASE FINISHED. JUDGMENT’S THIS MORNING. At the Compcnsaction Court yentea’(lay tho hearing of tho cvla.iun oil" Mr John Clark, for compensation, in respect of Iris lease of the To Arai estate was continued. ' THE STATION ACCOUNTS.

The cross-examination of Mr T. A. Coleman by Mr Eindllhy was continue ed, various details of accounts being dealt with. A STOCK AUCTIONEER,

John Wilson Bright, said ho did not know of any property that could he obtained capable of carrying tho Te Arai stock. If 10,000 sheep were placed on tho market the effect would not ho very bad. In March 1908 150 Hit cat-tlo would not sell very well. They would fetch 10s per head less than if sold earlier. On 150 ilicad of cattle which would be fat in May thoro would be a loss of 15s per head if they were sold in' March. On the balance tho loss would he fully 10s per head. On the whole tho three year olds would ■bring much less non - than 'f add early in October. On the two year olds there would be a loss of IQs’ j. or haul. On tho yearlings there would be a loss of 5s each. If Mr Clark had time to unload his stud cows in retail quwntities lie could got £l2 for them, but if he'had to suddenly find a buyer ho would probably only realise £8 a head. The balance of ordinary station ca.ttlo wore a very unsaleable line, and he thought there would be a loss on them of 10s pelhead. The best time to sell draught horses was in tho spring. At present all horses wanted for ploughing and carting had been procured. The loss on tho twenty horses on +j:o estate would be £5 per head. By Mr. Findlay: Supposed it would not cost- £5 per head to graze ■tiio horses for four months. If It. could be got it would cost no least 2s per week per head. The winter freights on Home lines commenced on June Ist. Had had stock accepted earlier than that date, but it was a special concession. Had never known tho concession to he refused. Country burnt in December would not he stocked until the following June. Knew of no demand for cattle for grazing. Did not know if tho Ra.ngitiin estate, Pulia, was for sale. Did not suggest v'-at all tho estates advertised by local land agents were bogus. THE LESSEE’S EVIDENCE. John Clark, lessee of Te Arai, said ho expected the end of his ten year lease would ho tho most profitable. Would not take an eight yours lease. Had an arrange.meat with the owner for a slight extension. Was desirous-of continuing ibis occupation. There was no chance of getting a property in the district. which was not already" fully stocked. Money was made on Te Arai just as wolil when ho was away iti England for nine months. Aliglit never be on Te Arai for months together. Knnaekanae would curry no more than two sheep to the core. The shipping companies objected 1o stock being frozen and Held for shipment jit the lower winter freight, if, ho wore working out the lease lie cSlilcl..have:- arranged everything to 'mininjjset or" even obviate' loss on saies|:'of.. slieep or cattle. At Opoit there was a paddock in which beef beasts were kept to await the convenience of the firm of butchers .Millington and McConnell) with whom be had a regular agreement. As tho -stock in the paddock became low -more would be 6ent from To Arai. By Mr Findlay: Would be almost ,as much injured by going out- iii July as in March. Could not disperse his stock until he knew for a fact that the Government would take the estate. Knew when he took Iris lease that the Government had refused to tnko the property. The copy of the lease in court would show whether or not there was a provision in it that if tho Government took the estate he was to make no claim against the owner for compensation. At Waipaoa there was a- good deal of undeveloped country. Would have a. burnj and the turnips sown would bo ready for feeding in Mlay. Did not buy Waipaoa to compensate him for tho lose of Te Anai. All his other properties were fully stocked. Could have -made To Arai pay on tho basis of prices in 1901. Could easily turn Te Aral into a grain-growing farm .and make it pay. ANOTHER STOCK AUCTIONEER, Gavin R, Wyililie, stock auctioneer, thought there was no property within 30 miles of Gisborne capable of taking the Te Ami estate. Valued the probable loss on cattl 0 the- same as Mr Bright, By Air Findlay: Probably Mr Clark could soli suitable cattle from Open t-o make room for Te Arai cattle. Alight he able to get grazing for cattle so that they might bo sold at opportune times, but lie del not know where the grazing could be got. At certain times of tho year there was a demand for entitle for breaking in country. Re-examined : There was a herd of stud Polled Angus cattle on Open. Did not think it would run two stud herds. MANAGER OF TE ARAL

AVim. Baird, manager of Te Arei, .said the accounts prepared were four and proper.

By Mr Findlay: The different estates had always been worked separately. THE-CASE FOB THE C'BOAVN. iAir Findlay said ho would not address the court until after iho evidence had been taken. AN ACCOUNTANT.

Andrew Graham, accountant, said lie had gone carefully into the ba-lance-sheet of Te Aral as prepared. The amount put down for wages seemed too small as compared with other stations where ho had kept exact accounts, lie nut in a statement showing the averages of receipts and expenditure on lour cf these stations. By Air. Shcrratt: Estimated the working expenses for sheep at .Cl 25 per thousand and at 7s 6d per head for cattle. It was not the custom to reckon the cost -of cattle on a sheep basis. Could vo'i say if the proportion of profit to expenditure was greater on tlio avenged ones than on Mr Clark’s property. MB A\ r . D. S. MCDONALD. AV. D. S. McDonald said' that if stock were sold between now and March there would not be much loss on the male stock, though there would bo some loss on tiio female stock. Did not know of any great demand for cattle at the present time. Young'stock were nearly always saleable. Could not griy that grazing could be got for a hundred (stud cows.

By Air Skerret-t: Was asked-about four months ago by Air Barron to prepare ", balauco-shcet showing Air Clark’s interest in the land, Employed Air Graham to prep.no Ibo balance-sheet. Air Barron did not consult with him as to who should give evidence as to tho pried of the freehold. -Iliad written to one mail as to whether ho would value the property. This man - replied in i.no negative. Had not been in close confere-nco with Air Barron during the past week. Mikiimiki, one of the estates used by Air Graham in his estimates, was steep country. Soane huslifelling had been done. On 500 two-year-olds on Te Anri tho loss would he 7s Gd to 10s per head. Pco-plo would ho gltul to get -Air Clark’s yearling stock at any time. The limit of loss on tho stud cattle would be £4 per head. When he valued tho freehold bo noted in a note-book tho charactor and value of each block. These notes gavo a total valuation o-f a little over £IOO,000, which valuation ho later increased.

lle-examined: Had only received about £3O from tho Government ill liis life. Had chiefly valued for tho Government to oblige settlers in the district. PAST AIARIvET REPORTS. John lloddrick stated that he had kept cuttings of newspapers reports of stock sales from August last. ADDRESS FOR THE CROWN. Air. Findlay, in addressing the Court, said that in March last claimant put his loss at a certain amount, but when lie was given a y eat*'ledger to run the estate his claim remained the same, so that it was really very much increased. As regards tho claim for Joss on cattle couuse! only showed a loss of half the claim. This question of loss, the opposing counsel had made, a very important one. Claimant was only entitled to his interest in the value of the land. The loss of business mentioned in tho Statute was only in so far as claimant may have t-o keep his money idle. Claimant argued that ho could only carry on his business for two years—the balance of the term of the lease—but the business covered by tho Statute, was a business which could be carried on anywhere. Ho (counsel) submitted that all claimant was entitled to was his interest in the value of the land, and the lows through difficulty in procuring another property. Ho did not contest- the assumption that there was a goodwill in the lease. The balance sheet of the estate made up had been prepared from scrappy notes and it was quite possible that much of the profit on one estate was mixed with that of another. Claimant had assumed that his profits for tho next two years would equal the best past two years of his lease, but if an average had been struck his estimate would be greatly reduced. As to realising on stock, counsel contended that claimant would not realise in any rash manner. AIR, SIvERRETT’S ADDRESS. Mr. Skerrett, addressing the Court, said that the true test of the value of the lease was to ascertain tho possible profits during the balanco of the term. It was absolutely no use to award claimant the selling value of tho lease. In addition to the value of the lease there had to be allowed something for the fact that lessee was put entirely out of business. Anyone looking at the balance sheet could see that Air. Clark’s loss would bo a real and serious one. He submitted that the accounts prepared were entirely fair. Air. Graham’s 'estimate was absolutely useless, because the properties might be very different’ in character to Te Arai.

JUDGAIENT RESERVED. After hearing counsel’s addresses tho Court adjourned till tho following morning at 10 o’clock. His Honor stated that he expected then to bo able to deliver judgment. COUNTRY NEWS. NUHAKA NORTH. (I’llOM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) Thursday. The work of docking the lambs is' now completed .and satisfactory increases in tho various flocks in tho district are reported. Tho strong westerly winds and dry weather which have prevailed here during the past month, have retarded the growth in the pastures, and in some localities the feed is very backward. Some showery weather would now bo beneficial. Tho work of shearing commenced in the Tarewa shed on the 30th, and will be- in full swing in other sheds in the course of a week or two. Preparations aro being made in the Alangatoto shed for fixing up-to-date shearing machines. Tho roads are once again passable for wheel traffic. Tho mail carrier has discarded the- packhorses, and now arrives in good time with hiscoach and five.

Good progress is being made with the bush felling contracts; several are completed. In some localities the orchards are looking gay with a lino display of apple and pear blossom. The Bishop of AVaiapu, accompanied by Archdeacon Williams, passed through the district on Monday last en route for Gisborne. The I3ishop had held ' a confirmation service in AA r airoa, and also addressed Nativo and European congregations at the Nuliaka church. His Lordship, considering his advanced age, is active and looking well. His first trip through this district was made in 1841.

POTJAAVA. AA T ednesday. (FROM OUK COIIBESrONDENT.) Shearing was started ill this district on Monday last, Air. McDonnoll, of Tangamatai, being the first in tlm field. Glenroy will have a night pen to-night, and will open with a full board to-morrow; so in a few days the operation will be general. It is to bo hoped the weather will be favorable for the sake of both employer and employed. Tho season so far is not turning out very favorable, as every few mild days which produced a spring growth have, as a rule, been followed by hard, dry westerly weather, which lias completely counteracted any beneficial elfcct. Stock is not improving as it should. Lambs especially, which a little .while ago were doing well, are at the present time making little improvement. However, the westerly weather lias done some good to the roads If nothing else, and travellers can get about again, so it corroborates the saying that it’s aii ill wind that does nobody - good.