COMPENSATION COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 10 April 1907, Page 2

COMPENSATION COURT.

THE KEWA MOW A RIFLE RAXGE. Before His Honor Mr. Justice Cooper, President, and Messrs. F. P. Corkill, £ l mid K X. i.ill'lon, assessors. '. ' The Compensation Court opened 111 ''' Tuesday morning. Mr. Ouilliam iiinear- '" ed.for the claimants, and Mr. Kerr lor ."' the respondents in the claims of \Villi.|-:i liayly's executors, and the Public Trus- "' tee, (.gainst the Minister for Pub!;,- ''i Works, compensation lor land taken for , the purposes of (he Rewa liewa rille " range. " The statement of claim sel out (hat by proclamation 011 7(h December, 1!I05, L the kind: were taken and vested in His }' Mii.jeUy for the purpose of a rille range. .. The land consisted of 7!) acres 2 roods , 10 perches, is part of the Kailere Xa- •' live 111 serve, Xo. 101 (Hun district), , Itlock 2, Paritutu Survey District, comprising 300 acres, formerly held bv the ■' claimants under lease from the native owners. This lease was surrendered to " the Public Trustee, and on payment of J £7OO for improvements the claimants were giantcd a lease of the reserve of ' 300 acres, with the rights of renewal and compensation for improvements. ' And whereas the bind adjacent to (he ■ land so taken in which they had an in- ] teresl would be injuriously all'ected by the rille range by reason that the land so taken and the remainder of the section (220 acres 1 rood ..;) perches) was depreciated in value to the lessees from . ils proximity to the rille range, and was also depreciated in value to them by ilu loss of water rights and frontage to the Waiwakaiho river. The total claim was for £OOO, of which Cl!)0 was a pioportioual.c part of the sum of .1700 [.aid to (he Public Trustee for improve mrnts; £551, the difference between the rental (under lease X T o. 0382) ' of 10s per acre and the present unimproved annual value of 25s an acre, or ' Os per acre on 7'J acres 2 roods 10 perches for 15 years and 153 days; £125, I depredation by reason of proximity to ' the rille range; and £IOO depreciation ' by loss of water rights and frontage to ' (he WiViwnkaiho river. The Public Trus--1 tee claimed from the Minister £3152 : 10s 4,1, made up as follows:—70 acres 2 ' roods 10 perches of land taken, at £3O per ac v, £2380 17s Oil; land injuriously afl'cctel as follows: 220 acres' 1 rood ) perilies depreciated ill value to the extent of £2 10s per acre by reason of proximity to the rifle range, £SOO Is Hid; depreciation in value of Ihu said 220 acres 1 rood 30 perches by loss of wilier rights and frontage to the river, £2OO. Claimants' case was supported in evidence by Thomas W. Fisher, agent for the Public Trustee; F. M. Mills, farmer; Fred. Bayly, one of the trustees; David Laing, land agent and valuer, with farming rxperienee; .T. S. S. Medley, land agent, with farming experience; A. W. Wood, farmer; L. Patlie, land agent and valuer; Geo. Francis, butcher and farmer; K. Griffiths, land agent, valuer, and fanner; L. Randall, land agent and value'; 11. ISarnitt, farmer. Mr. Kerr, for the respondent*, called Walter liewley, land agent and* valuer; ' Sam. Hill, Government valuer; .1. Skinner, surveyor, formerly farmer and Clove.smcnt land valuer; [I. F. Russell, land agent and valuer; E. .1. Carthew, land agent and valuer; R. Price, farmer and r.'.sessor. The case is not concluded, and will be resumed at ten o'clock this morning.