Assessment Court.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1052, 23 March 1882, Page 2

Assessment Court.

The Assessment Court for the Borough of Gisborne was opened yesterday morning at 11 o’clock, before M. Price, Esq., R.M. Mr Drummond, in answer to the Court, stated that the valuations were on the same basis as last year with a few slight alterations. His Worship expressed an intention of not reducing valuation from that of last year, except on the very clearest grounds. During the proceedings His Worship drew attention to the manner in which the valuations were made, stating that they appeared to him to be more the result of guess work than formed upon any reliable basis in accordance with the requirements of the. Act. The following were the objections heard and decided on : — Walter Black, rated for premises in Gladstone Road, not iu his occupation. Not sustained. J. A. Bradley, (1) over valuation on property in Gladstone Road. Not sustained. (2.) Over valuation of property iu Gladetons Road. With-

drawn. W. Brassey, (1) over valuation of property iu Gladstone Road, buildings of which were destroyed by fire. Name of C. D. Pitt substituted for Mr Brassey, and reduced from £l5O to £BO. (2) Over valuation of property in Childers Street. Not sustained. (3) Over valuation of property in Gladstone Road. Not sustained. H. J. Bushnell, over valuation of property iu Palmerston Road. Not sustained. C. A. Butler, not occupant of premises rated in Aberdeen Road. Name of A. Hatton substituted. C. W. Buller, (1) not occupant of property rated in Aberdeen Road. Name of Mr Fryer substituted. (2) Not occupant of property rated in Gladstone Road. Name of Mr Wilson substituted, and reduced from £2O to £l9 Bs. Michael Carrick, over valuation of property in Gladstone Road. Reduced to £2O. W. K. Chambers, not occupant of property in Gladstone Road. Name of Read’s Trustees substituted. W. Clarke, (1) over valuation of property at Waikanae. Reduced to £3O from £4O. (2) Over valuation of property at Read’s Quay. Not sustained. C. Dempsey, by his agent W. Ratcliffe, (1) non-liability for rates of property near the hospital, and overvaluation of same. Liability established, reduced from £lO to £B. (2) Over valuation of property in the same subdivision. Reduced equally. (3) Over valuation of property in Fagan’s town. Reduced from £2O to £lO Ss. G. Feary, non-linbility for rates of properly in Custom House Street. Sustained ; P. McFarlane's name substituted. 11. J. Finn, non-liability for rates of property in Gladstone Road, and over valuation of the same. Liability established; reduced from £5O to £lO. B. C. Fryer, non-ownership or occupancy of property in Gladstone Road. Mr Wilson accepted responsibility for rates, but had not had sufficient notice to prepare objection to •amount. Ownership vested in Mr Wilson at £l9 18s instead of £2O. F. Gregson, over valuation of property in Disraeli Street. Reduced from £lO to £5. John Grubb, non-ownership of property in Grey Street. Mr Clarke accepted the responsibility, but objected to the valuation as excessive. W. Clarke, over valuation of property in Grey Street. Not sustained. John Grubb, non-ownersbip of property in Grey Street. Ownership and occupancy transferred to Mr Clarke. W. Clarke, over valuation of property in Palmerston Road. Not sustained. E. Harvey, over valuation of property on Read’s Quay. Not sustained. G. 11. Johnson, non-interested in property in Read’a township. Property vested in Read’s Estate. G. Johnstone, over valuation of Brewery property in Palmerston Road. Not sustained. W. M. Newton, over-valuation of property in Gladstone Hoad. Reduced from £lO to £5. Wircmu Pere, non-occupancy and over valuation of property in Gladstone Road. Not sustained. C. Dean Pitt, no interest in property in Gladstone Road. Mr Butt accepted responsibility, objecting to the rate as excessive. Occupancy vested in Union Bank at £9O instead of £l3O. C. Priestly, by Mr Finn, (1) over valuation of property in Grey Street. Mr Finn applied for costs, but the Magistrate emphatically refused. Reduced from £4O to £lO Bs. (2) No interest in property in Gladstone Road. Not sustained. (3) Over valuation of property in Carnarvon Street. Not sustained. (4) Over valuation of property in Aberdeen Road. Reduced from £27 10s to £lB. (5) Over valuation of property in Derby Street. Reduced from £3O to £l5.

W. Ratcliffe, agent for T. Whitson, no interest in and over valuation of property in Gladstone Road Occupancy and ownership vested in Whitson’s Trustees at a reduction from £lO to £5.

W. Ratcliffe, non-ownership or occupancy, and over valuation of property in Palmerston Road. J. Score, non-ownership or occupancy of property at the Waikanae. Struck out.

G. Sealey, over valuation of property in Gladstone Road. Reduced from £3O to £2O.

S. Stevenson, over valuation of property at the Waikanae. Reduced from £lOO to £3B.

Webb and Mogridge, non-liability, as weekly tenant?, for property rated in Peel Street. Sustained; ownership invested in R. Cooper. T. Whitson’s Estate, by W. Ratcliffe. no interest in property situate in Palmerston Road. Occupancy vested in Mr Strong. (Jr. J. Kinross, alteration of title to property in Gladstone Road. Name of Air J. White of Glasgow substituted as owner and occupier. This was all the business.

During the proceedings, Mr Nolan complained of the inconvenience arising to solicitors by the absence of Mr. Greenwood from his office during the session of the Assessment Court.

His Worship failed to see auy more inconvenience than arowe from pro-

longed criminal cases, particularly aw people having business with tbe clerk were tacitly allowed to transact it in an undertone while other business was going on. We rather think that Mr Greenwood is the greatest sufferer, for if solicitors want constantly to have the benefit of his services during the transaction of court business, he will have effectually to out-Herod Sir Boyle Roche’s famous bird, and be in two places at once.