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by the Surveyors of Taxes to the amounts required by them, unless
direct evidence is produced to the effect that such amounts are
too high.
public
Houses.
One feature of the recent Quinquennial Valuation was the large
amount by which the Overseers deemed it necessary to increase the
assessments of the public houses in the Parish. Of these, 156 were
increased by £11,534. Eighty-three notices of objection were received,
five of which were afterwards withdrawn, but in 51 cases the parties
interested were represented by their counsel, solicitors and trade valuers,
before the Committee. After fully considering the evidence submitted,
the Committee made reductions in only 12 cases, while in 8 others they
still further increased the valuations of the Overseers, the result being
a reduction of only £100 in the gross value originally fixed by
them. The total increase in the Quinquennial Valuation List in
respect of public house property alone is therefore £11,434; and in
connection with this fact it is worthy of note that no appeal in respect
of such property has been lodged with either the special or quarter
sessions.
Public
Companies
Another class of objections which calls for special notice is that of
the public companies, the increase in the value of which, together
with the addition in respect of the public houses, more than accounts for
the increase in the total valuation of the Parish by the Quinquennial
Valuation List.
The fact that these two classes of property have been increased by
£42,768, while the total increase shown by the List is but £36,080
is evidence that but for such properties the valuation of the Parish
would have shown a decrease, notwithstanding new property, of nearly
£7,000.
There are twelve Public Companies included in the List, the total
rateable value of which exceeds that of the assessments in any
one of the collecting districts of the Parish. The assessments
of these Companies had been increased in the Quinquennial Valuation
List from £173,570 to £204,804. Seven companies gave notice of
objection to the List, and on the days set apart for the purpose appeared
by their Counsel or Solicitor, and by professional witnesses in support
of their objections. The Committee did not deem it necessary to put
the Parish to the very large expense which would have been caused by
having the undertakings owned by these Companies, or the portions of
them in Islington, independently valued by professional Surveyors,
but did its best, from the calculations which had been prepared
for the occasion by the Clerk with the assistance of the Vestry's