COMPENSATION CLAIM

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1929, Page 1

COMPENSATION CLAIM

WRIGHT’S FARM CASE. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 7. The Compensation Court has awarded James Wright the sum of £11,754 compensation for land taken under the Public Works Act from Wright’s Farm, of 132 acres, on the Waimakariri, by the Waimakariri River Trust. Mr Wright claimed £16,641, but, when the ease opened, he reduced his claim to £16,570. The aw'ard is at the rate of £B9 an acre. The hearing of the claim occupied the Court for eight days, the Court sitting on several days till 10 p.m. The award is the award of a majority of the Court, which consisted of Mr Justice Kennedy, president, Sir Walter Stringer, assessor for James Wright, and Mr E. Bold, assessor for the Trust. In giving the award on Saturday, his Honor said that the Court directed that the Trust should pay Wright the costs of the inquiry as lietween party and party, tluxse costs being fixed at 180 guineas, together witli the fees of Wright’s assessor and witnesses’ expenses and disbursements, fixed at £172 16s 6d. The Trust will pay its own assessor’s fees. His Honor fixed the amount of the fee for each assessor at £ls 15s per day for each of five days of sitting. The case is the longest heard by a Court in Christchurch for many years. SON’S CLAIM NOT SETTLED. Consideration of a claim for about £2OOO by Gorden W. Wright’s sons, for alleged interference with a lease to them from their father, was adjourned till October 19, at Wellington. Mr A. F. Wright, with him Mr Sim appeared for Jafiies Wright, Mr Sim for the sons, and Mr Johnston, with him Mr White, for the Trust.