BOARD OF REVIEWERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2369, 14 June 1892, Page 4

BOARD OF REVIEWERS.

The Board of Reviewers for Geraldine County— Messrs Stericker (chairman), Flatman, and Dickson—resumed their sittings on Saturday morning. The day was devoted to the Levels estate, and the owners' objections were not all got through. The New Zealand and Agency Land Company were represented by Mr Kiinierney, and the Levels manager, Mr Orbell. Mr Erydone, the company's general manager, was also present most of the day. The first objection called was N.Z. and A. Land Company, Levels estate, 45 acres (Taiko Valley), total £315, improvement £3O, net value £285. Mr Kinnernoy at the outset, suggested that the evidence for objectors should be taken generally first, and the blocks be gone through afterwards, or the proceedings would bo interminable from the •.•(.'petition of evidence, and Mr Walker, inspecting Assessor, and Mr Allan, Assessor, agreed to this course. Mr

Kiinierney addressed the board generally on valuations, asserting that Mr Allan had not followed the block subdivisions previously made, but had re-divided the property into lots himself, mixing lands of different character in such a way that it was impossible for any one to make a proper valuation ; that Mr Allan had not availed himself of the information offered him respecting the qnantity of English grass or the length of fencing, and he could not possibly ascertain these things himself. The total area of the estate was about 40,000 acres, and the objections had been lodged in respect of about 38,000 acres, the valuations of which had been inci-eased about £48,500 over the List property tax-valuation, which was £254,274, of course including improve monts. The company conteuded that the property had been over assessed for property tax, and the present increase was unjust and excessive. In the evidence given it was shown that Mr Allan valued the English grass land at 10s per acre, while the manager of the company and his witnesses valued it at £1 per acre. The company were satisfied with the other valuations for improvements.

In reply to the board Mr Orbell said he could not give the proportions of different ages of grass, except in this way, that there were about 25,000 acres of English grass, and they laid down about 5000 acres a year.

The chairman said that in his experience grass on a similar land became worthless in six years, almost disappeared, so 10s ivould be a fair allowance for grass of all ages. The valuation of the grass at 10s an acre would be \ipheld.

The following lots were dealt with during the day, a dozen out of three dozen objected to. With few exceptions they relate to outlying and poorer blocks. The total of the assessments dealt with was £43,900, and the reductions made amounted to £4232.

The "limestone block," Taiko, was dealt with in two blocks :

45 acres, total, £315 (£7 an acre), improvements £3O, net land £285. Messrs Ford and Maclean's valuation £225, £SO, £175.-—Reduced by £1 an acre to £270, improvements £3O, net £240.

1420 acres, total £12,070, improvements £1265, net £10,805. Company's valuation £9210, £1417 10?, net £7792 10s.—Reduced to £10,302, net £9037. 308 acres, Taiko Flat (right side of road from Pringle's cutting), total £2024, improvements £2OO, net £1824. Mr Ford gave his valuation as 170 acres ploughable at £5, and 108 at 30s, £1147. The 193 acres was a steep dolerite facing, unploughable, and the 170 acres had a y.W. aspect, and much was liable to be flooded.—The assessor's average of £5 10s per acre was reduced to £5. 1260 acres opposite the last, total £6300 (£5 an acre), improvements £465, unimproved £5835. Messrs Ford and Maclean valued this block, steep downs, 697 acres ploughed, 563 acres unploughable, at £4 an acre all round. Mr Ford put £6 on the ploughable and £2 on the tussock. They valued improvements at £1697, net £3B43.—Reduced to £4 10s an acre all round.

1773 acres tussock on end of Mount Misery, fronting Taiko creek, £4878 (£2 15s per acre), improvements £445, net £4433. Mr Ford and Mr Oibell described this as simply a small grazing run. The former put the,. Government value on it, £2 an acre. The latter said the Government put up the adjoining Jand, equally good, at 255. The assessor asserted" that there were several bits of flat in the Mock, ai|4 Ml' Ol'bell contended he did not know i\m block he was talking about ; the flats belonged to the last block dealt with.—Gross value reduced by 10s an acre.

191 acres on slopes of " Big Hill," back of "The Limestones," £764, improvements £BS, net £679; objectors' valuation £573, improvements £l4B 15s, net £233 ss. Land described as most of it very rough, 80 acres ploughed and grassed, but not cropped nor cropp:ible.—Reduced from £4 to £3 15s per acre.

887 arrets S, \V. slopes of Mount Misery or " Big Hill," facing Cannington,' and sloping to the Pareoya, Total valuation £4435 (£5 an acre), improvements £650, net £3785. Objectors' valuation £4 per acre ; 430 acres were in tussock on a steep hill wide. —Tussock land reduced to £4 per acre.

3 045 acres (on top of cliff to right of Pringle's gully) £8.882, improvements £522, net £B3OO. Objectors' valuation £7315, improvements £B26—After a long discussion the board sustained this valuation.

391 acres on Opihi, opposito Mv Wigley's, leased to Mr J. G. Bladder, £-2346 (£6 per acre), improvements £3OO, net £1906 —-P.educed by £2OO.

328 acres adjoining, also leased to Mr J. Ci Blackler at 10s an a«re, valued at £8 per acre, £2632, improvements £,3.60, net £2272, Mr Orbell asked for a reduction for the. He valued it at £6 10s all round for cash, £7 tfro outside. The lessee claimed £SOO for improvements. The assessor said lie had conferred with Mr Blackler'e son, and agreed that £360 would be fair.—Reduced from i'B to £7 10s per acre. 231 acres, "Fendall's block," total value £5 per acre, improvements £l4B. Valuation upheld. The board then adjourned till 11 a.m. on Tuesday.