APPEAL AGAINST THE PAROCHIAL ASSESSMENT.
Mr. Walker appealed against a poor rate for the parish of Buriton made from the new assessment upon 4A. 0R. 11P. of land, adjoining the Town of Petersfield.
Messrs. Shenton and Elkington, two of the Assessment Committee, were present.
Mr. Waller commenced stating his objections and complained strongly of the assessment being so unequal, and unfairly made in excess of the rent—the rent being £12, and the new assessment £16 per annum.
Appellant produced his receipts for rent, and also the amount of his previous ratal, viz., £7 12s. 1d., and pointed out the names of several persons in the poor rate, whose laud adjoined the piece of land in question, to show the inequality of the assessment. He called:
Mr. Harrison, who substantiated the statement.
Mr. Shenton, the overseer, produced the rate for Income Tax, which amounted to £16 per annum, as paid by the landlord, Sir W. Jolliffe, for the same property, and also pointed out the names of ten persons, as occupiers of land nearly adjoining, to show that many small holdings around the town were paying nearly or quite £5 per acre.
The hearing of the case occupied a considerable time, and the magistrates decided that sufficient evidence had not been produced to warrant them in disturbing the decision of the Assessment Committee.
Mr. Waller then proceeded to show that the farm at Steep, in his occupation (as owner) containing 116 acrea, which originally stood in the ratal at £97 to Mr. Berriman, and which was raised by Messrs. Barnett and Knight, as overseers, in April last, to £130; has since been raised, by the Assessment Committee, to £180. He called
Messrs. Barnett and Knight, who deposed to £130 being the fair value in its present state.
The further hearing of this and other cases of objections was adjourned to the 23rd of December next.