ASSESSMENT COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 277, 15 April 1913, Page 7

ASSESSMENT COURT.

YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS. The Assessment Court resumed its sittings yesterday under the presidency <of Mr. A. Crooke, S.M. At the outset ill'. Mills referred to the suggestion made by Mr. Corkill at the adjournment on Friday that lie should consult with him (the speaker) 1 with tile object of arriving at a compromise with regard to the remaining ; cases. As he (Mr. Mills) had stated before, he had not felt inclined to make i any compromise unless there was a , third party to act between them. Mr. Corkill had his values, the speaker had , his. He had made a uniform value throughout the Borough, and to give way on any of these values would be ; false to himself, and it would be unfair , •to the other ratepayers. Mr. Corkill. as a valuer, came before the Court and stated his case, and he stated his. ITis Worship, acting as assessor between' them, and unless there had been an as- , sessor to act,between them lie had felt' it would not be advisable to have a conference. He had his figures, Mr. Corldll ' had his, and unless there were any ev- : rors he did not feel inclined to give way one' iota. His valuations were on a im'i--form basis from one end of the Borough to the other. Mr. Corkill had "been very 1 successful oil behalf of the objectors, notwithstanding the fact that the "Government valuations of properties were higher, and in view of actual sales, and un- j der such circumstances one felt disposed to go oil with each case on its merits. Rather than consent to all these ' reductions he would value the Borough ; free of cost next year in so far as these cases were concerned.

Mr. Corkilu who is appearing as valuer on behalf of a number of objectors, complained that liis overtures for 'a conference bad been totally ignored by Mr. Mills, lie referred to his overtures made in the Court on Friday, and said lie had followed this up with a letter, which he personally handed to Mr. Mills, offering to meet him either at his office or the office of the speaker at any hour which would be convenient to him. The overtures had been absolutely ignored, however. Mr. Corkill added "that notwithstanding Mr. Mill's remarks about injustice to, other ratepayers, he had, to the speaker's knowledge, discussed valuations with certain of the objectors, and arrived at little arragements which he presumed would come before the Court. Mr. Corkill concluded that he had done his very best to save the time of the Court.

The following cases were adjudicated upon:—Taranaki Club (Mr. Roy) £227, reduced to £175; Roman Catholic Church •Trustees (Mr. A. H. Johnstone) five ■sections in Coiirtenav street, £CO, reduced to"£ss; James Bruce (Mr. Roy) property situated in Wallace Place, £27. reduced to £22 10s; Laura Bruce (Mr. Roy) 'properties situated: in Bulteel street and Downes street—Bulteel street property £47. reduced to £4O, Downes street property £l9, reduced to £l2; J. H. 'Sheppard, property situated at Vogeltown, "£53, reduced to £45; Alice Maud ■ Cock, property situated at Victoria and Mill Roads, Voseltown. £IBO, reduced to £170: George IT. Maunder, property situated in Victoria Road. Vogeltown, £OO, reduced to £55: C. S. Rennell, property situated at Chilman's Estate, £(5 O. reduced to £47 10s; New Plymouth Harbor Board three cottages 'and land at Moturoa, £IOO. reduced to £OO with Mr. Milto's consent: Walter Bewley, property Niger house. Eliot street and Pendarves street, £lO4, reduced to £75; New Plymouth Theatre Company £OOO, re- ' dnced to £300: Mary Ann Foote, property situated at Fitzi'ov. £47, reduced to £37 10s: Julia Coad (Mr. A. H Sn £27, reduced to £2O; James' (Mr. A. 11. Johnstone) situated at Eliot street, £3(5, reduced to £3O: John Averv (Mr. A. H. Johnstone') property situated in Devon street ■ near Henui Bridie, £4O. reduced bv consent to £42; N.T. Maunder (Mr. A. H. Johnstone) one anil a half acres in Vivian 'stree_t, £BO, reduced to £OO. At ••>.45 p.m. the 'Court adjourned till noon to-day.