633
A-I think access was stopped. The Wharf, I see, was removed.
Q-Let us assuine, for the sake of argument, that access had not been stopped at that time, will you make any difference between 1895 valuation, and the end of 1898 ?
A-I should say it was rather more. The general rule is a steady increase in the value of property.
Q-Does not property vary a great deal in value?
A-It fluctuates a little, but, taking it altogether, there is generally a steady increase.
Q-As regards Valuation No. 4, what do you mean by "value as an Inland Lot now"?
A-I suppose I considered it as an Inland Lot no longer used for Godowns.
Q Did you consider that the value of the land as Godown land at the time your Report was gone?
A-I certainly did.
Q-At the time you made your Report in December, 1898, were not cargo boats still coming alongside the Praya in front of Marine Lot 184 ?
A-I do not know; I think so. I spoke with the knowledge that access was going to be stopped. I treated it as if it were already stopped.
Q-In view of that fact, your idea was that this property could not be used as Godown land any more, and that was what made you assess the value of build- ings as old materials ?
A-Yes.
Q-Otherwise you would have put a much higher value on the buildings hap you known they were going to be used as Godowns?
A-The actual value at that time was $55,620.
Q-At that time boats were still coming alongside in front of Lot 184; will you please tell us how did you arrive at your calculation of $2.50 per foot?
A-I see a note that we made a valuation for other properties quite close to the Lot in question, I believe Nos. 202 and 204; the present numbers of these Lots are, I think, 213 and 225.
Q-Can you tell the actual Lot numbers, and are they East of Lot 199?
A-No. They are not East of 199; 213 and 225 are the numbers.
I am
certain they are not East of 199.
Q-When did you make that valuation?
A-July 2nd, 1895, and it seemed to me to be just one of the cases that suited this particular valuation as an Inland Lot. There were 2 houses; 213 and 225 are the numbers.
foot?
Q-What were they used as ?
A-As Godowns and a Chinese Store.
Q-What value did you place upon these?
A-One was valued at $1.60 and the other at $2.00 per square foot.
Q-You say that you went by that valuation in arriving at $2 per square