THE FLAXBOURNE ESTATE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7796, 12 April 1905, Page 3

THE FLAXBOURNE ESTATE.

FOURTH COMPENSATION COIjHT. <Per Press Association.) BLEXHEIII, A|»ril 11. The hearing ol the caw;, ClilToril v. the Minister for-Lands, a claim of £335,000 in respect to the compulsory acquisition of the Flaxbourne Estate, some 25 miles from lllenheirn, was resumed here to-day. This is the fourth sitting of the Compcnsa- ■' tion Court in this case. In February last, after an ex-tended sitting, Mr Justice Cooper, Mr J. G. Wilson, and Hon. T. K. McDonald failed to agree on an award, and a fresh court has been constituted, the President on this occasion being the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout,and the assessors, Messrs GiUieit Ander- j son, of Christchurcil (for xlainnants), and T. C. Ross, of Hawke's Bav (for r"the mister):* r" Mr Skerrett, of Wellington, with Mr H. Johnstone . Conolly, . appears for the claimant, and Sir Sim, of Duncdin, with I)r, Findlay and Mr McCallum, for respondent. Tho Judge and Assessors 'nave spent some days in viewing the pro- , perly, which is to be valued as at the time of the proclamation in February, 1902. The question of classification and the area to be retained by the owners were settled by a previous Court in December last. The area, of the owners' reservation is roughly 11,500 acres, and the area being taken by the Government is approximately 45,700 acres. The function of the Court on this occasion is to fix the price to be paid, and the evidence is on:;thc same lines as before. The witnesses so far are A. S. Biss, accountant for the owners, peter Hayes, Commissioner of Taxes, who was witness for the Minister ; Sir George Clifford, principal owner, and Mr Eaweld, manager.