Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1873. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 258, 9 January 1873, Page 7

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1873. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

About a mouth ago, a number of ratepayers appealed to the Court of Petty Sessions against the valuation ,of their properties, for rating purposes, made by the municipal authorities.. In every instance the appellants were successful in procuring a reduction ; the Court laying it- down as a principle that houses and buildings should not be assessed at more than threefourths of their value. The Court at the same time pointed out that the Act provided that the scale for unimproved land should be five per cent, on the annual value, and for the guidance of future assessors, fixed 10 per cent, as the rate for improved land. The ratepayers generally cordially approve of the action of the Court, believing it be fair and equitable, and' also view favorably the action of the appellants. But the fact of a number of citizens having the valuation of their properties considerably reduced, thereby having to pay less than others, has engendered a feeling of jealousy, which the scale laid down by the Court of Petty Sessions was, as stated by His Worship, intended to allay. It was anticipated that the Town Council would immediately upon the decision of the Court, have taken some steps to place all ratepayers on an equal footing, so that those who had not appealed should not be compelled to pay rates on valuations of their property, which a competent tribunal had declared excessive. The Council, however, did not do so, and the consequence is a wide-spread feeling of dissatisfaction, which is daily growing stronger. It is not yet too late for the Council to move. It would be a graceful ajet, and one which, were the. dictates common sense and fairness obeyed, would ere now have been done. We commend the consideration of this matter to our niunicipal rulers.-. It is, we think, within their powers "'to equalise the valuations of all property, and they should lose no time in doing so, as when a fair start is made to collect the rates, the opportunity will probably have passed away. In the name of the citizens of Lawrence, we ask the Town Council to perform this just deed. In another column will be found the programme arranged by the Committee appointed for that purpose, for the reception of His Excellency the Governor by the citizens, and his entry into the town of Lawrence. We are sure the citizens need tio urging to respond to the invitation of His Worship the Mayor, and that their welcome to Sir George Bowen will be alike befitting his position as representative of Her Majesty, and honorable to the capital of Otagd's premier goldfield. ~