BOROUGH VALUATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 277, 15 April 1913, Page 8

BOROUGH VALUATIONS.

A CURIOUS POSITION . BOROUGH COUNCIL PERTURBED. The Council was doubtless aware, wrote Mr .C. Carter (Chairman of the Association of Objecting Ratepayers) at last night's meeting of th Borough Council, of the events connected with the sitting of the Assessment Court during the present week, how the time of the Court and of the objecting ratepayers had been wasted in the Valuer's futile attempts to sustain his valuations, and how he had failed in every single case, except the two contested by Mr. Berry. Efforts had been made both in open Court and by letter by Mr. F. P. Corkill, as representing many of the objectors, to induce Mr.. Mills to confer with a view to effecting compromises, but up to now (11 a.m. on Saturday) these advances had not been agreed to by the valuer, and it Was evident that the proceedings must continue to drag out their weary course. So far no suggestion had been made that the costs incurred by ratepayers, and the value of their own time in attending the Court to meet assessments, should be made good by the Borough Council at whose instance the notices had been is«tie>l. but it was the intention of this both- of objectors henceforth to apply in eiifli c:iso for an order against the Bor-on-.rii Council, in terms of section 25 (51 of the Rating Act. ''This intimation." ((included Mr. Carter, "is sent to you in order that the Council mav not be'taken bv surprise."

'I'll" Mayor mentioned that on behalf of the Council ho had endeavoured to linn" nhout a compromise, but Mr. Mills preferred to stand bv his valuatioiu.

<"r. Tackson asked whether it was too late for the Council to engage its solicitor to act on its behalf, in conjunction with the valuer.

According to Cr. Clarke every dav the Court sat the Council was losing from £3O to £4O in rates. It would have been hotter for the valuer to have conferred with the obectors.

The Mayor pointed out that Mr. Mills was appointed valuer, and it was evident that he proposed to act on his own, _ C ouncillors were generally of the opini'ii that it was now too late to appoint a solicitor to act with the valuer. Cr Jackson .proposed that the letter w rofoiipf] to the Borough solicitor for nis opinion.

Tins was withdrawn in favour of an amendment by Cr. Ambury that the !5 • f If*"! 0 ' 1 to tl,e Mav ° r to consult uith the Tioroupli solicitor, and if "~ry Mr. Mills, with power to act. —This was carried.

'lhe matter of costs was raised bv Mr. Ro\. on behalf of an objector in the Assessment Court yesterday bT T^rai^m ation costs " was °PP OS " II f l i A t!^' n t]l ° n»estion was defmed bv the President of the Court (Mr. A, l.rooke. S.M.).