COMPENSATION COURT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2205, 28 January 1886, Page 2

COMPENSATION COURT.

MASTERTON.-WEDNESDAY,

(Before G. B. Davy, Judge, and W, Lowes and E, N. Likfiton, As. sessors),

Alexander Stowart. appoaled against the valuation of certain land forming part of the township of Dreyertown, and taken by the Public Works Department for railway purposes, Mr C. B. Izard represented the Crown, and Mr ff. FitzGerald, instructed by Mr Gawith, appeared for the claimant.

Claimant demanded tho sum o! £495 for 3a lr 22p, being £l2O for tho value of the land, £3OO for severance, and £75 for clearing away rubbish deposited. The land formed a portion of section G7,lajd off by witness and Mr Dreyer as a town, ship some years ago, He valued the land at £2l per acre for agricultural purposes, and ho had sold several acres to the Government ten years ago at the rate of £25 per acre, A jiumber of quarter acre sections which ho had held wore sqkj at tjm rate of £GO per acre. In cross-cxamina : tion ho aaid that the section, which con ; tained 47 acres was valued by the Property Tax Department at £IOO, which was also tho valuation of the County Council and Road Board, Be valued the land taken at £2l per acre, and the damage by severance at £3O per acre, Ho affixed the township value to the land. Ho believod lie valued tho land at £lOls when he niado his last return to the Property Tax Deparfcmont, He did not fix the value, but merely agreed with tho valuer, and if he suggested £Gper acre, ho was not going to bo assessed at £2O. Robt. Mackay, B. Hunt, W. B. Buiek, and G. S. W, Dalrymple gave evidence in support qf fhe claim, and the latter stated that property in Drcyertowii wa3 rising jn value, and that additlonal'valuo hhtTbeeri given by the fact that a cliurch'a'nda school had been erocted,

Mr A. S, Dreyer, valuer for the Property Tax Department, said he had valued tho land for the Department, but was sworn to secrecy. As a privato individual he considered the land had been spoilt by the railway, and rould only be worth from £5 to £G per acre. Mr Stewart was offered £J2 per acre for it before the township was laid out, Mr Stewart and himsolf had laid nut the township and sold it in 18.78. In 1882 ho' valued the land at £4 per acre. " . '' Some evidence' having been taken jn the chiim.bf E. McKenzie, Kopuaranga, the Court adjourned till to-day. ' ''