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Q-And all Mr. Howard had to do was to fill in this schedule? [pointing to Form A of Schedule to Ordinance.]
A-Yes.
Q-There was no necessity for him to fill in the rental value ?
A-No.
Q-And he would only have to fill in the tonnage capacity?
A-- Yes.
Q-The Godowns were always the same capacity?
A-Yes.
Q-He would not have to make any alteration year after year?
A--No.
Q-What was the rental value of this property in 1895 ?
A-I was not in the Colony. I was here in 1894.
Q-Did
you
know what it was that a tenant would have to pay ?
A-I could tell you according to my Assessment Book.
Q-You would be surprised to hear that it has been valued by two other experts in 1895 as being worth $10,800, and another as being worth $10,300 ?
A-Mr. Howard was always complaining about over assessment right up to the time he sold the property, the reason he set forth being that the silting up prevented his cargo boats coming up. He complained that the Reclamation had an effect on his property.
Q-And as a matter of fact it did; did it not?
A-I did not press the assessinent.
Q-If it was worth $10,800 we could not ask you to reduce it; we express that opinion now, and, if it was worth $10,800, it should have been rated accord- ingly?
A-Yes.
Q-Did you make any alterations in the assessments of Godowns in the neighbourhood?
A-I did make some alterations.
Q-They were based on rental ?
A-Yes.
Q-So that when the owner is in occupation, you leave the assessment at the same figure?
A-Yes.
Q-With regard to Marine Lot 183, is that an assessment on rental ?
A-183 was on rent, but, in two or three cases, the rent is slightly less than the assessment.
Q-But it was an assessment on rental?
A-Yes.
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