8.—17b

144

B. Copy of Letter from J. Thornes to Waipa County Council. Dear Sir, — Auckland, 23rd October, 1914. On the 16th September I wrote you explaining the ownership of Lots 68 to 72, and asking you to separate the rates on the different blocks between Gilbert Baird, Mrs. Thornes, and myself. I have had no reply. Until you separate these items, I cannot pay you. Yours faithfully, Charles Bowden, Esq., Clerk, Waipa County Council, Te Awamutu. J. Thornes. C. Letter from the County Clerk, Waipa County Council, to Mr. J. Thornes. Re Lots, Parts 68-72, Pukete. Dear Sir, — Te Awamutu, 24th October, 1914. I have nothing whatever to do with separating these sections ; it is a matter for the Valuation Department to deal with. The present entry on the roll is "J. Thornes : Parts 68-72, Pukete, 201 acres 2 roods 33 perches ; capital value, £4,500." Alterations to the roll between the Ist April, 1914, and the 31st March, 1915, do not affect the current year's rates. If have made sales it is for you to arrange with the purchasers to pay you their proportion of the current year's rates, not for the Council. If we undertook these matters, our hands would be pretty full. Your course is to notify the Council concerning all transfers required, and the Council transmit to the Valuation Department alterations —as stated above to take effect from Ist April next. Yours truly, Mr. J. Thornes, Auckland. A. Bowden. P.S. —I would refer you to section 63 of the Rating Act, 1908. D. Copy of Letter sent by J. Thornes to District Valuer Hyde, Hamilton. Re Lots, Parts 68-72, Pukete Parish. Dear Sir, — Auckland, 30th October, 1914. I have received from the Waipa County Council a demand for payment of rates on the above blocks. I have explained to them that I never did own 68, 69, 70, or 71 ; these were owned by Mrs. Thornes, but the bulk of them were sold prior to the 31st March, 1914. The Council's reply is that the Valuation Department have assessed me for the whole of this at a capital value of £4,500, and they cannot alter it. The only allotment I own is part of Lot 72; and I returned the full value of this in the return of property held by me on the 31 st March, last. Please say how you came to assess me for the whole of this, and what I am to do under the circumstances to have this mistake rectified. Awaiting your esteemed reply, I have, &c, The Valuation Department, Hamilton. J. Thornes. E. Copy of Letter from J. Thornes to District Valuer Hyde, Hamilton. Lots, Parts 68-72, Pukete Parish. Dear Sir, — Auckland, 7th December, 1914. On the 30th October, I wrote you concerning rates charged by the Waipa Council on this block, and asked you to amend these assessments, and rate me for what I own. I have had no reply to this. Kindly let me have an answer at your earliest convenience. Yours faithfully, The Valuation Department, Hamilton. J. Thornes, per S.T. Copy of Letter from J. Thornes to Commission. Dear Sir, — Auckland, 14th December, 1914. Since I wrote Mr. Martin on the 9th December, I have received a letter from Mr. Hyde (it arrived on the 11th), in which he reminds me that he paid me a visit and obtained a plan of Sunny Park, which visit had slipped my memory. I hasten to express my regret that in my letter of the 9th to Mr. Martin I stated that I had received no reply to my letter of 30th October addressed to the Valuation Department at Hamilton. I remember that Mr. Hyde's visit to me was in reply to that. He now informs me he advised the Valuation Department of his apportionment of the respective amounts, and, on calling at the Auckland office of the Valuation Department on Saturday, I ascertained that this apportionment was approved, and that the Auckland office would duly notify the Waipa Council of the alteration ; so in this case, I am now in a fair way to obtain an equitable demand for the rates.