THE VALUATION OF LAND AND THE POMAHAKA ESTATE. (Daily Times Riverton Correspondent.)

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8172, 2 May 1895, Page 1

THE VALUATION OF LAND AND THE POMAHAKA ESTATE. (Daily Times Riverton Correspondent.)

Tliero hi\a boon a considerable amount of e\citomont and discussion going on in Southland during the last month or two over tho valuations being mado by tne various county councils, especially in Southland county. Tho Assessment Court for tho Wallaco county was held in llivcrton on the 25th inst., but there woro very fow objections of any importance to tho general public, and " Your Own "would hardly havo riforred toil but for a voiy strong statement mado by Mr Duncan Campbell, Crown lands ranger under tho (Southland Land Boaid, and special pioteyc of tho MinisUr of Lands. I 1I 1 will bo remembered that tho lion. John M'Konzio upheld Mr Campboll's appointment as ranger by strongly asserting his eflioiency, ability, and especially his knowledge i<f tho value of land. It will also bo remembered tint tho hot\ gontlonmn's "gi Ho " had to be takon up to Clinton to organise tho banquet spontaneously tendeicd to the Minister for Lands, when Mr Campbell absorted that tho Pomalmka estate was a good investment and worth every penny tho Government had Riven for i. In giving evidence at tho Assessment Court on Tuesday about tho value of a piece of land ho said (I quoto his oxaot woids) : "Your Honor, Ihavo voiy groat pleasure indeed in giving evidence about tho value ot land in Southland, as the value put upon ib by tho valuers is u terly r diculoua ; and I can assuro your Honor tin I am thoroughly conversant with tho value of land all over Southland and Otago. I know tho valuo of cvety aoro from the mountain tops to tho swamps, and, your Honor, I was veiy pleased indeed to see that his Honor, Mr Hawkins, had reduced iho valuo of tho land [referring to lho Pomahaka estate] to L 2 per acre, as it is every penny it is \>orlh, notwithstanding all tho Government said about it, as tho Government capital values wore f »r too high." In tho railway carriage, travelling from Inverou'gill to lUvorton to at end the Assessment Court, Mr Campbell strongly assorted that the valuo put on the Ponnhaka estato by Mr Hawkins was lib full valuo. Thoro is nob tho slightest doubt that L 2 per aero is tho full value of tho estato, notwithstanding (is Mr Campbell put it) tho assertions of tho lion John M'Kenrio to tho contrary. Probably Mr Campbell may have some difliculty in reconciing tho two statements when faco to faco witb his chief. 1 know nothing of the Gaelic language ; bu , though it may contain adjectives galoro, I douot if there will bo a sufficient number to express tho Hon. John's opinion of his faithless henchman.