34..
it, or not.
The difficulty of dealing with this question of assessment consists in the multitude of special cases, the circumstances of each of which must be considered. That is to say, there will be that difficulty unless you reduce the matter to a question of the strictly legal rights of the Brown, which I do not think you ought to do. The reclaimed land has been occupied in several instances by occupants, each paying a consideration in succession doubtless. There was one case where the land after being reclaimed by an individual reverted to Government, the Lot to which it was attached had been repurchased by Government, granted out and it has been since again granted to other persons at the full value. I do not believe that the Government paid anything for the improvements - That was Lot 41.
I thought the whole of that case a great hardship - Locality is another Matter for equitable consideration. The centre of Victoria being much more valuable than either the East or West end, I think that the rates of assessment ought to be proportionally higher. I would suggest that the Government should provide for some of these special cases by repaying to those who have reclaimed land the amount expended; (Making all equitable allowances), and, having done so, to put them and their new buildings upon the same footing in all respects as other occupiers and their Lots. Otherwise it will be impossible to avoid an inequality of conditions, which will be a great injustice to the holders of land south of the Queen's Road, and indeed all over the whole of the Colony.