ASSESSMENT COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 29 October 1907, Page 2

ASSESSMENT COURT.

COMPENSATION FOR RESUMED LAM Per Press Association. (Jisborne, Monday. The Assessment Court is sitting here to-day to determine the compensation to be paid to the Hon. Randall Johnston and J. Clark, the lessee, for the Te Arai estate of 10,(i01 acres, recently taken by tlio Government under the Land for Settlements Act. The Hon. Randall Johnston objeots to the classification. He claims £24 lis 7d an acre f0r.2923

acres and £0 10s for 7703 acres of second-class land. The Government's classification is 2488 acres first-class and 8203 acres second-class land.

Mr. Findlay, for the Crown, intimated) that the Government would aceept (the owner's classification.

In the course of the preliminary discussion Mr. Chapman, for the owher, nsked for an amendment of the clause, increasing the claim to £IB,OOO. Mr. Findlay submitted that the claim could not now be allowed. Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., For the lessee Clark, argued that unless the requisition were amended the Court had no jurisdiction. His Honor reserved the right to amend the claim. John Clark, the lessee,- states that he holds the land under :| ten years' lease from August, 1900, at a rental of £3750 per annum. He values his interest in the lease, including goodwill, at £IO,OOO. He also claims £22,000 compensation for disturbance.

Gisborne, Last Night. The Compensation Court commenced a sitting to-day fo consider the claim of the Hon,. Randall Johnston, owner, and John Clark, lessee, of the To Ara station, of 10,700 acres. Mr. Johnston classified the land as 2944 acres firstclass and 7774 second-class. The Minister classified 2488 acres first-class and 8203 second-class. The total claim made is £119,000. Mr. Clark's claim is £12,000. Johnston's case was taken first. Expert evidence was taken, one witness taking the rest of the sitting. He assessed the value of 2867 acres of flats at £76,829, Tmd the hill land, 7914 acres, at £62,594.