THE VALUATION OF KAWAU.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1709, 12 August 1879, Page 4

THE VALUATION OF KAWAU.

la reference to a paragraph in our ("WellingtonPost's") last issue regarding the valuation of Sir George Grey'a property at Kawau for the purpose of tho Land Tax Act, the Bev. J. O. Andrew, late M.H.B. for Wairarapa, writes as follows: —"Haying been rated, as I conceive, exorbitantly for land tax purposes, I have, as a private individual, thought it due to myself and children to ascertain the amount at which the Premier, who appoints, and can at pleasure remove— a la Khedive of Egypt —the final judge of appeal in land tax cases, is assessed. I find the following result : —Kawau, five thousand two hundred and sixty-nine acres (52G9) ; capital value, twenty-one thousand four hundred and geveny pounds (£21,470) ; improvements, nineteen thousand two hundred pounds (£19,200) ; net value, two thousand one hundred and Beven pounds (£2107). I have no wish to dispute the accuracy of this calculation ; but if other properties in New Zealand are asaoaaed on a different and higher ■cale, the Premier does not pay his fsir share of taxation. It sometimes pays, even in cash, to he an advocate of the so-called rights of humanity.—l am, &c, J. O. Andbew." As a pendant to this, and as a specimen of the manner in which " circumstances alter cases," in the eyes of land tax valuers according to the ownership of the properties valued, we ("Post") may instance the case of another "Island Home," which, unluckily for its owner, is possessed not by the " Great Proconsul," but by a private citizen of Welling. ton. We refer to Mr J. E. E. Wright's property on Mima Island, which, although only 600 acres in extent, was actually valued at £4200—£7 per aore for unimproved land on an out-of-the-way island off the couat, far away from any settlement, possessing no

regular communication with the miinland or access to any market. Mr Wright objeoted that this valuation was too high by fully £3OOO, £I2OO being the outride value of the froperty, but his valuation was disallowed, t is evident that under the Grey regime there is one law for the " Great Pro-consul," but quite another for men who by hard work have saved enough money to purchase land for themselves and their families.