ASSESSMENT COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 18, 24 October 1879, Page 2

ASSESSMENT COURT.

♦ Foxton, 'Wednesday, October 22. (Before R. Ward, Esq., Judge.) FOXTOX-BAXSON RAILWAY VALUATION. Mr Christopher Simpson appeared to object to his property being included in the above valuation. Mr Sanson appeared on bohalf of the company. His Worship said he would take some evidence as to the existence of the company. Henry Sanson, ohairman of tho Board of Directors of the Foxton-Sanson tiailway Co , deposed to the formation of the oompanj, and to tho proper deposit of the plans and books of reference; the appellant's property was situated within the boundary ; the vote of the ratepayers had been t*ken, as required by the Act, aud more than tho required number of votes in favor of the schema were obtained ; he had held, a; Court as Revising Officer, and no ohjootioh iiad been lodged by Mr Simpson ; appellant's property was rated in the fourth (lowest) olass. By appellant— You appealed to the Revising Court on the first occasion ; but the operation? had been wrong, and proceedings had been commenced de novo. Mr Wilfred Jackson, the secretary of the company, proved that the plans and books of reference were open for the full time prescribed by the Act ; in faot, much longer ; Mr Simpson's property was rated iu the fourth class. Mr Simpson, sworn, said he was a landowner in the County of Manawatu ; he objected to being rated at all ; his lund was Bituated in the boundary of the FoxtonSanson Railway District ; objeoted to being rated on the grounds that he could not possibly be benefitted by this railway ; tlso that there was a probability of his being injured by the railway if the line was made (as Mr Sanson said it probably would be) the main line ; if such did occur, then his property, which at present abutted on the main line, would be only on a bye line; he farther objeoted for (he reajwn tuttproperty situated

a mile nearer the line tnan his, was not rated all. Jlis Worship said that after hearing the evidence, he found that the appellant's land was in the railway district, and this principle must be affirmed — that all land in boundary is rateable. The application must be dismissed. Mr Sanson applied for costs, under the 33rd clause of the Act. The company had been put to groat expense through factions opposition already, and it was very vexatious for the secretary and himself to bo dragged from business 20 miles to defend such frivolous complaints. He hoped the Bench would grant reasonable expenses under the clause mentioned. Mr Simp3on said on a former occasion he had been asked to meet the directors at Sinson, to endeavor to compromise the matter, but no expenses had been allowed him on that occasion. ' Mr Sanson >eplied that that was a different case. Before the directors knew the extent of Mr Simpson's claim, thoy had invited Mr Simpson and two or three others to meet them at Sanson to hear their objections. His Worship said he had never yet allowed josts to any public body in sustaining valuation lists, and he cmld not grant the application. He believed in every facility being giveo to persons feeling themselves aggrieved to ventilate their grievances.