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Q-What is the difference in value between a Marine Lot and an Inland Lot ? Now, between 1895 and 1905, what would be the difference in value per foot in that Lot without any building at all on it?
A-I should put the value of a Marine Lot in that neighbourhood as being from $8 to $10 per foot.
Q-What would you say is the value of this property-Lot 184-supposing the Godowns were not there?
A-To-day it would be worth about $3 or $4 per foot.
Q-What would be the value of the reclaimed land in front?
A-About $8 per foot.
Q-A Marine Lot is worth double the value of an Inland Lot ?
A-No; only in that particular neighbourhood. Musso's, for instance, I should say is worth $10 per foot at the present day, and Howard's 'Godowns are worth at the rate of $4 per foot at the present day. There is a special reason; you cannot build the same class of houses on Howard's property as you could on Musso's. Musso's land has been leased for the building of brothels.
Q-And if the Godowns were still on Musso's ?
A-Then I say the value would be only about $5 per foot.
Q-In 1895 you say Howard's land was worth $147,000 ?
A-Yes.
Q-You valued it at $3 per square foot ?
A-Yes.
Mr. Pollock (re-examining on behalf of the Crown):-
Mr. Hooper, I see you value the Buildings at $50,000 ?
A-Yes.
Q-Can you tell us what they were insured for ex foundation?
A-They were insured in 1898 for $30,000, excluding foundations. It is the common custom of this Colony not to insure foundations.
Q-Would $50,000 be a fairly liberal value for these buildings?
A-Yes.
Third Witness-Mr. J. F. Boulton.
Mr. CALTHROP (cross-examining on behalf of the Claimaints): When was your attention first called to the Reclamation in front of the Godowns, and when did you make that plan? [pointing to Plan just handed in.]
A-Well, I began to collect the data for that in 1889, when I took the first
section,
Q-You were assisting the Government at that time, and were giving them information ?
A-I was simply collecting the information.
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