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Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 192, 18 July 1916, Page 3

MANUREWA.

RAILWAY COMPENSATION ! CLAIM. A claim for compensation to tte ' extent of £2241, for land taken and damage sustained in the deviation of the main railway line at Manurewa last year was heard at the Supreme Court yesterday by Mr Justice Cooper and two assessors Mr U. W. Baslev for the claimant, Francis William Wood, farmer, of Manurewa, atd Mr A. S. Holmes for the delendant, the Minister of Kail ways. Mr M. G. McGregor appeared for tbc claimant, Bnd Dr 11. L). Bamford, instructed by the Crown Solicitor, for the defendant. The claimant's property, Mr McGregor .slated, was situated in the Matiurewa Town District, and comprised 2!)J acrcp. It wrs roughly a paralklugram, bounded on the east bv the Great fc>' uth road, on the west by the old line of railway, and on the north by Weymouth road. The new railway line hid been taken diagonally across it irom north-iast to south-west and in such a way that it there had been a delicate int : ntion of damaging the claimant's property the Kailway Department could rot have done better. The ett'fct of the deviation was to rut off an area of 14 acres on the western side of the new lin?, having that psrt cf tbe property entirely without accesß to any public road, so that it could no longer be uted for building purposes, and was lit orly for grazing. Further, the new line ran so close to the Great South road frontige oi tha property that the land on the eastern side of t"-e lice wes practically useless for a frontage of 15 chains, the average depth being half a chain. The rest uf the property on that side had been depreciated by the proximity of the line, which would row be very close to the backs of any allotments that might be made. No betterment had accrued fr;?m the deviation, since the railway ficilitits had existed bef»re. In fact, the proposed removal of the railway station further north was a detriment instead of a benefit to the property. The plaintiff claimed a total sum of £2241 compensation, mad.e up as follows: Laud taken for line (3£ acres at £l3O an acre), £441; damage on western side, £1500; damage cn eastern side, £3OO. Prior to the deviation, said counsel, the land had been admirably suited for subdivision into building allotments, no new roads being neceespry. Now only a portion of it would be so subdivided. It was decided that His Honor ard the assessors snoultl visit the locality before hearing any of the evidence, and the case was accordingly adjiurned until to-day.