[October 11, 1937 – Auckland Star] A claim of £3400, compensation for land in Mount Albert, taken under the Public Works Act, was heard in the Supreme Court today before Mr. Justice Callan and two assessors, Mr. W. H. Lunn, for claimant, and Mr. John Alexander, C.M.G., M.L.C, for the respondent.
Claimant was Miss Winifred Mabel Kerr-Taylor, for whom Mr. Duthie appeared. Mr. Meredith represented the respondent. Claimant asked £3400, together with interest at 5 per cent, in respect of the taking of the block.
Mr. Duthie said the area lay between the Mount Albert and the Sandringham tram lines. It was taken on December 11 last by proclamation of the Governor-General by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research for the purpose of plant research.
Claimant was the owner of the land, as the executrix of the late Allan Kerr-Taylor, and was also the owner of a further block of 19 acres. She alleged that the 19 acres would be injuriously affected by the taking of the 16 acres and would make the roading and subdivision of the 19-acre block more costly and the sections of less value because of lack of access.
Mr. Meredith said he would like the question of costs to be reserved.
At this stage the Court adjourned so that the area in question could be inspected.
The inspection by the Court of the property in question occupied the rest of the morning, and the hearing was not resumed until this afternoon. Thomas Tripp Andrews, a surveyor, gave evidence concerning a plan of the area which he had prepared.
COURT AWARD OF £2310.
[October 15 – Auckland Star] In a judgment given today by the Compensation Court Miss Winifred Mabel Kerr-Taylor was awarded £2310 in her claim for compensation against the Minister of Public Works for land taken at Mount Albert, under the Public Works Act, for a plant research station. Costs were fixed at £125, to be paid to claimant by the respondent. The fee of each assessor was fixed at £42, to be paid by the party appointing him.
The area of land, 16 acres, near the Owairaka tram terminus, was taken on December 11 last, and in her claim for compensation Miss Kerr-Taylor, as owner of the area and as the executrix of the late Allan Kerr-Taylor, sought an amount, of £3400. Also, as owner of a block of 10 acres adjoining the land taken by the Crown, she claimed that her interests would be injuriously affected by the taking of the 16 acres and that the loading and subdivision of the 10 acre block would lie more costly and the sections of less value because of the lack of access. The claim was heard by Mr. Justice Callan who had associated with him as assessors the Hon. John Alexander, C.M.G. M.L.C., and Mr. W. H. Lunn. The hearing occupied four days, during which the Court visited the property. Considerable evidence was given by valuers called by both parties. Claimant was represented by Mr. Duthie and the Crown by Mr. V. R. Meredith.