The Borough Valuations.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8102, 31 May 1906, Page 5

The Borough Valuations.

Substantial Increases.

SomeANear! £ 108'Eer Cent.

Local property-owners are now beginning to receive the results of the recent valuation of land in and around the Borough of Palmerston North, and some of them are very wroth at the substantial increases which have been made. Several of them unburdened themselves to a Standard reporter this morning, and if their promises are kept a big batch of objections will be made at the sitting of the Assessment Court here on June 22nd. On the other hand several gentlemen expressed themselves as quite satisfied. They admitted that good big increases had been made, but s<iid that last year's values were altogether too low.

Speaking to the local valuer to-day our representative was told that the increases had taken place chiefly id the Square and on the extreme outskirts of the town. The value of the intervening sections has not been altered very much. He was unable to say what the figures for the Borough as a whole were as his books had not been returned from Wellington.

Another competent authority estimates that the average increase for the whole Borough will be something like 25 or 30 per cent

A call at the Council offices resulted in the discovery of the fact that the valuation rolls had not yet come to hand. They were being very eagerly looked forward to, however, as the work of the office was much delayed in consequence of their non-arrvaU

A number of land-owners were then visited and each kindly furnished our reporter with the required information. The following instances are given to show the result of the va'uarioa in different parts of the town :—The unimproved value of a section 111 Cuurehstreet East, for instance, has been raised from £297 to £396, nearly 33 per cent. A property in the Square, having a frontage of 29 feet, shows the following substantial increases :—Gross value, £2230 to £4165; unimproved value, £1770 to £"2655. A quarter-acre section in Duke street is now set down at a gross value of £510 and unimproved £198. Another section liaving a 37ft frontage to the Square, near Coleman Place, has had its value raised by nearly £1000. Linton street property has apparently been passed over lightly, no increase having taken place in at least one section there. One acre-section in College street has had its unimproved value raised over 75 per cent. Another property in the same street having a 60ft frontage has had its value raised as follows :—Gross value £285 to £300, unimproved £105 to £120. Sections in Cuba street, near to Rangitikei line, have had their unimproved value raised fully 50 per cent. Another section in College street, which has been on the market for two years past at £250, has been put down at £329. The owner says the valuer or anyone else is welcome to take it at the former figure.

It is in the Square, however, that the biggest jumps in value have occurred. In addition to the instances already quoted, two sections in Coleuian Place, of 11 and 24 feet frontage respectively, were found to have had their unimproved values raised from £330 to £605, and from £720 to £1320. The increase in value of some sections near the Post Office are very interesting —to the owners. One with 19 feet frontage has been raised from £950 to £1140, one of 12 feet from £600 to £903, one of 15 ft. from £750 to £1304, and one of 19 feet from £950 to £1630. A section on the north eastern side of the Square, 72 feet frontage, has its unimproved value raised from £3597 to £5400. The value of the land upon which the Royal Hotel stands is now set down- at £18,335., This is an increase of nearly 100 per cent, since last year's valuation.

All objections kave to be lodged by June 14th, tke Court sitting to deal witk tkem on tke 22nd.

Ike wkole of tke Kairanga County will be re-valued tkis year, and possibly tke Horowkenua County as well.