COMPENSATION CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1930, Page 5

COMPENSATION CASE

LAND TAKEN FOR PUBLIC

WORKS

By Telegraph—Per Tress Association.)

AUCKLAND, June 17

A claim for £3820 compensation was brought against the Public Works Department in the Supreme Court by James Ronald, a woolbroker, across whose land at Panmure Arapuni’.s high-power transmission line passes.

Included in the total claim is £I9OO for alleged diminution in value of 45 acres dufe to the existence of the trans mission line, and £720 for the injurious effects on the residue of the land which the owner intended for subdivision.

Evidence that the power poles had interfered with the choicest portion of the estate was given by Thomas B. Arthur, state agent. He valued the whole 30 acres at £lio.an acre, and the portion taken by the Public W orks Department at £250 an acre. Fie estimated the loss on the present scheme of subdivision as compared with the original scheme at £3288. The opinion that the whole subdivision scheme had been “murdered” by the taking of an area for electric power purposes was expressed hv Thomas Mclndoe, president of the Real Estate Instuitute. Some years ago he has estimated a profit of £15,000 from the subdivision of the area into over 100 sections. “I would not touch it at all now for subdivision,” lie said.

AUCKLAND, June 19

£I7OO was awarded, the Crown being also found liable for cost of fencing in future and provision of a crossover power line route, for vehicles and stock.