21
THE ESTATES GAZETTE
January 7, 1899.
Mercer under the style of Bohins, Gore and Mercer.
At the December rent audit of the Underley Estate, held last Tuesday, Mr. Punchard, on behalf of Lady Henry Bentinck, presented a gold watch and chain to Mr. Leonard Bentham upon the completion of the 50th year of his tenancy on the estate. Mr. Bentham had commenced 51 years ago upon a small farm, then taken a larger one, and four years ago had removed to a still larger one, a progressive tenancy which was flattering to both sides. Mr. Punchard also, on behalf of Lord and Lady Henry Bentinck, handed to Mr. George Cow-perthwaite an aneroid barometer, with^ an inscription to the effect that it was a parting gift upon the sale of his farm, which he had occupied for 14 years in succession to his father’s tenancy of 20 years.
AUCTIONEERS’ INSTITUTE, THE (p. 13).—We give a resume of a paper read before the members of the Institute on Tuesday evening by Mr. Walter Simms, F.S.I. The paper did not admit of discussion, and) the proceedings were brought to a close at an unusually early hour.
AGRICULTURAL NOTES (p. 26).—Observations on Sir Walter Gilbey’s horses, the Maidstone Show, Agriculture among women, Potato crop, Wheat m Victoria, Swine Fever, etc., appear under this head.
BRIC-A-BRAC SALES OF 1898 (p. 11).—An interesting summary of all the most notable sales held at Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Stevens’s, and other well-known London auction rooms during the past year is given.
CITY TOPICS (p. 16).
COMMISSION CASES (p. 26).—At the Birmingham Assizes Mr. Arthur Betteridge Clibbery, a Kidderminster auctioneer and town councillor, was successful in an action against Mr. Thomas Homer, solicitor, Brierley-hill, for commission in respect of business done in public-house property through the plaintiff’s introduction.—A claim for letting a house at Felixstowe was settled by the County Court Judge in favour of the defendant.
COMPENSATION CASES (p. 22).—Of the cases reported in our columns this week, the claim of Sir Montague Nelson, Hangerhill House, Ealing, against the Ealing and South Harrow Railway Company is perhaps the most important. _ Other cases given are in regard to business premises at Norwich, in which the claim for damage on account of loss of business was made by Mr. F. G. Flatt; a claim for 2a. Or. 35p. of land at Sunbury-on-Thames, acquired by the Urban District Council, by the Trustees of the late Mr. Hedges, heard before the Under-Sheriff of Middlesex; and a claim against the Eastbourne Town Council for property acquired by them for street widening, made by the owner, Mr. H. Peerless.
FORESTRY (p. 28).—Mr. Curtis, in his weekly article on the science and practice of forestry, deals principally with tap roots, and shows the differences of opinion which arise in points of practice in regard thereto.
FURNITURE OLD AND NEW (p. 17).—The period from James II. to Anne is dealt with.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS (p. 23).—An action remitted from! the High Court, in which the plaintiff claimed £100, a half-year’s rent, of a farm occupied by the defendants, was heard at the Salisbury County Court. Defendant had paid certaiu sums, leaving a balance which they admitted was due, but filed a counterclaim, one item of which, the amount of the land tax on the farm, was admitted by plaintiff. Judgment was entered for plaintiff on the claim less the amount of the land tax, and also on the counterclaim.
LEGAL TOPICS (p. 29).—The principal points arising in various cases recently decided are dealt with by “ Barrister.”
LICENSED PROPERTY NOTES (p. 15).—These include important announcements concerning licensed houses, etc.
LONDON BUILDING ACT (p. 27).—'What constitutes a wooden building? was a question discussed before the magistrate at the Lambeth Police Court on the 29th ultimo, in the course of proceedings under the London Building Act. A summons issued by the London County Council against a Mr. Townsend for retaining a structure to which part of the Act applies, without having obtained the necessary license, was withdrawn as the result of argument.
MARKETS, THE (p. 28).
MEMS. FROM THE MART (p. 24).—Business was resumed at Tokenhouse-yard on Thursday, though only two auctions were held. “ Onlooker ” deals with the offer of reversions and policies and leasehold properties at Forest-gate, Lewisham and Ilford.
NOTES BY THE WAY (p. 24).—Comments and remarks on various topics of general interest.
OBITUARY (p. 17).
PERSONAL (p. 21).
PRIVATE TREATY SALES (p. 21).
PROVINCIAL PROPERTY SALES (p. 16).
RATES AND RATING (p. 27).—An appeal against the assessment of Anderton’s manure and vitriol works at Penryn is reported under this heading. Appeals heard at the Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions are also mentioned.
RATING OF TITHE RENT CHARGE (p. 29).—A report of a deputation to the Primate from the Council of the Tithe Rent Charge Owners' Union is given.
RED LION HOTEL, HENLEY-ON-THAMES (p. 15).— An illustration and description of this famous hostelry, which has just been sold privately.
SAYINGS AND DOINGS (p. 27).
SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAYS (p. 13).-In a letter to the Editor, published under this heading, Mr. H. C. Trollope asks why members of the profession should go on spoiling their half-holiday by closing their offices at two instead of one o’clock. Our correspondent argues in favour of “ a real halfday’s relaxation.”
THE YEAR 1898 (p. 14).—Following our usual custom at this season, we deal with the condition of the land and property market in London and the provinces during the old year. The reports and opinions of important firms throughout the country on the character of the year’s business will be found interesting.
Messrs. Bound and Howitt, auctioneers and surveyors, Bedford-row, W.C., have dissolved partnership.
Messrs. H. D. Da-vis and B. Emanuel, surveyors, Einsbury-circus, E.C., have dissolved partnership.
Messrs. Jones, Lang and Co. have removed their east City offices from No. 101, Leadenhall-street, to No. 95 in the same thoroughfare.
The partnership hitherto existing between Messrs. A. A. Oakden and E. T. Garland, auctioneers, etc., Eastbourne and Bexhill-on-Sea, has been dissolved.
The adjourned discussion upon Mr. W. Weaver’s paper on“The London Building Act” takes place at the Surveyors’ Institution on Monday evening.
Messrs. G. D. Claridge and W. L. Harris, carrying on business as auctioneers, etc., at Birmingham, under the style of Claridge, Son and Harris, have dissolved partnership.
Mr. J. H. Mellenfield, E.S.I., who has been associated with Messrs. J. P. Dixon and Son for the past 26 years, has commenced business as auctioneer, etc., at No. 517, Hackney-road, E.
Miss Constance Marler, eldest daughter of Mr. Sidney Marler, of Woolborough House, Barnes (Messrs. Marler and Marler, Sloane-street׳, S.W.), was married to Dr. Arthur Edge-low, of OathcarGroad, South Kensington, on January 3, at St. Mary’s Church, Barnes.
Mr. A. G. Notley, auctioneer, etc., Lowestoft, has admitted into partnership his brother, Archer Notley, who was articled with him, and has been in his office for the last eight years. The business will be continued under the style of A. G. and A. Notley.
Lord Cowper’s rent audit for the Michaelmas half-year was held last week. The rents were received in the afternoon at the White House, Hertingfordbury, by Mr. W. Horsfield, the steward, and in the evening the usual dinner was held at Panshanger, with Lord Cowper in the chair.
We understand that Mr. J. B. Cooper, E.S.I. (Messrs. Yentom, Bull and Cooper, 35, Old Jewry, E.C.), acted for both Lord de Grey, the purchaser, and Mr. W. A. Bevan, the vendor, in connection with the sale of Coombe Court, to which reference was made in our “ Notes by the Way ” last week.
Mr. Latham A. Withall, E.R.I.B.A., E.S.I., Jewry House, Old Jewry, E.C., sat as arbitrator at the Surveyors’ Institution, on Tuesday and Thursday of this week, in the case of “ St. Luke’s Vestry v. Pedrette and Co.,” in which the parties sought the settlement of a dispute which had arisen in relation to a building contract.
Great interest was manifested in the marriage on Wednesday of Miss Mary Goldesborough Bennett, the eldest daughter of Mr. Thomas O. Bennett, F.S.I., the well-known land agent of Bruton, and member of the Somerset County Council for the Sparkford division, with Mr. Charles M. Pobinson, M.A., of Dunstable. The wedding was one of the prettiest ever witnessed in the old church of St. Mary’s, Bruton.
Mr. Thomas Blashill, F.R.I.B.A., recently entertained to dinner at the Cafe Monico, Re-gent-street, W., the members of the architectural staff of the London County Council and a few friends. General satisfaction was expressed by those present that Mr. Blashill had acceded to the request of the County Council and had postponed his retirement until March 31.
Mr. C. Franklin'Simmons, F.S.I., of Basingstoke and Henley, was presented by Lord Baring, on Wednesday, at Basingstoke, with an illuminated address, together with a purse of 50 guineas, in hearty recognition of his valuable services as assistant secretary for 18 years of the Boyal Counties’ Agricultural Society, of which Her Majesty the Queen has consented to become president for the ensuing year. Mr. Franklin Simmons now succeeds his father. Mr. Charles Simmons, F.S.I., as secretary.
Mr. P. J. Dixon, of 263, Bethnal Green-road, N.E., has taken into partnership his two sons, Mr. Pierson John! Dixon, the younger, and Mr. George Warde Dixon, both of whom have for some years been associated with him in the business of an auctioneer, house and estate agent. The style of the firm will continue to be P. J. Dixon and Son, as heretofore, and the business will be carried on at No. 263, Bethnal Green-road, N.E., and at No. 16, King-street, Cheapside, E.C.
The firm of Robins, Snell and Gore (L. T. Snell, W. J. Gore and W. A. Mercer), auctioneers, land and estate agents, Conduit-street, W., Wardour-street, S.W., Victoria-street, W., and Dorset-street, N.W., has been dissolved by mutual consent, as from December 31, 1898. The business at No. 22, Conduit-street■, and branches, will be carried on as before by Mr. Leonard T. Snell, under the style of Robins, Snell and Co. ; and the business at 205, Wardour-street, W., will be earned on as heretofore by Messrs. W. J. Gore and W. A
of land-tax and income-tax ; a second is unable to pay the wages of a servant; a third has to groom his own pony ; another, with a living worth a nominal £826, has only £275 for himself, after paying outgoings, which include £75 in rates on tithe. There can be no reasonable doubt that clerical tithe-owners are entitled to the same relief under th6 Agricultural Eating Act that has been extended to others. The Archbishop told the deputation that he endeavoured to obtain this relief when the measure was before Parliament but failed, the Government being afraid of over-weighting their Bill.
The present position of the Government, of course, is that they can do nothing until the Eoyal Commission on Local Taxation has made its report. But why the delay in getting out that document ? It has once or twice been stated that an interim Report would shortly be forthcoming; but now, as the Archbishop said on Monday, there does not seem to be the least chance of their reporting yet awhile. In the meantime, the tithe-paid clergy are in parlous case. The end of it all is, for the moment, that the Archbishop is going to consult his brother Bishops in the hope that the concentrated wisdom of the episcopal Bench may suggest some way out of the difficulty. In these columns we are not so much concerned with the incomes of the clergy as with the desire to see another anomaly and inequality of local taxation remedied. And if this particular piece of unfairness could be put right by an interim report of the Eoyal Commission it would only be common sense to do it.
There is a humorous incongruity about the idea of rating Mont Blanc. The upper portions of a distinctly inaccessible mountain do not usually offer much scope for the ingenuity of rating surveyors; but this question of Mont Blanc is becoming of practical moment. It appears that a century and a half ago the territory on the Savoy side, “ up to the extreme limits of tillage, pasturage and habitation,” wa3 divided between three communes,one of them being Chamonix. But nobody troubled his head about the mountain above those limits. It was an unproductive no man’s land. Now, however, things are changing. Hotels, shelter-huts, observatories, railways and other properties, have been established on the mountain side, and the time is thought to have come when they may fairly be taxed. The question is, however, to which of these communes they are to be rated. It looks as though not only the surveyors but the Swiss lawyers would shortly be enjoying themselves very much indeed.
Hales bn Jribate ®reatg.
The freehold dwelling house, No. 64, Clarendon-road, West End, Morecambe, has been sold for £650, by Mr. J. B. Gough, of that town.
Messrs. Bisiker and Bisiker, of Bournemouth, have recently sold two freehold shops in the High-street, Southampton, producing £360 per annum, for the sum of £6,450 ; and another, producing £95 per annum, for £1,600 ; also freehold ground rents of £20 per annum, secured upon property in Old Kent-road, London, S.E., for £530.
The following properties have been recently disposed of by Mr. H. C. Bigden, of 229, St. John’s-hill, S.W. :—No. 52, Shelgate-road, Wandsworth Common, freehold, estimated rental £34, price £475 ; Nos. 56, 58, 66, 68 and 70, Speke-road, Clapham Junction, and 96, 98, 100 and 102, Livingstone-road, Battersea, long leases, moderate ground rents, and weekly rents amounting to £257 8s. on the two lots, the nine houses being sold for £1,680. The total of sales thus affected was £2,155.
believe, as was suggested at the Monks Kirby meeting, that hunting men make difficulties about buying their supplies from the farmers. Certainly the farming class would exhibit far less goodwill towards the sport were it not for the grist it brings to the mill in the shape of the sale of eggs and butter, poultry and horse-provender. And this we say without suggesting that they are interested in hunting for what they can get out of it. But farmers simply could not afford to give facilities for this splendid sport, did it not “ make good for ” agriculture. So long as it does that, and so long as there is mutual goodwill, there is no fear of fox-hunting dying out.
THE ESTATE MARKET.
The business transacted at the Token-house-yard Mart during the past week was of a very limited character, being confined to two auctions only, both of which were held on the same day. The total of £19,025 was chiefly made up by the sale of reversions and policies, though some real properties on offer, comprising suburban houses and shops, sold readily.
(®aasiottai Jtatas.
We commend to the heads of firms the letter which we print in another column from Mr. Henry C. Trollope, F.S.I. Our correspondent suggests that the Saturday half-holidays of clerks and others should no longer be spoiled by the closing of offices at two instead of one o’clock. There is very much to be said for Mr. Trollope’s proposal. We fancy that, in most offices, very little business indeed is done after one o’clock, whereas for purposes of recreation the afternoon is cut to waste. At two o’clock it is necessary to lunch, and it is consequently well on towards three before any move can be made. Were offices closed at one there would be a real, instead, of a theoretical afternoon available. We trust that Mr. Trollope’s suggestion will be acted upon by many firms in the new year. They would lose nothing while their employees would gain much.
Again the tithe rent-charge has fallen. This year its value per £100 will be £68 2s. 4fd., as against £68 14s. lid. last year. In 1892 its value was only a fraction under £76 ; and even now, despite the lowering influence of a series of bad years, the average of the 68 years during which the existing arrangement has been in operation is £97 0s. 7fd. It has often been suggested that tithe-owners have very little to complain of in face of such an average, spread over a couple of generations ; but that is obviously an unreasonable view. The present generation cannot wax fat and flourish upon the profits of the last; and the present price of the tithe rent-charge is lamentable in the extreme. During the last seven years the fall has averaged £1 per annum, and should there be no appreciable arrest of the diminution during the next few years the prospect will be exceedingly blank. Of course, if the farce went beyond a certain point,it would become the duty of the Government to take measures for the relief of the embarrassed tithe-owners.
This question of the tithe rent-charge is indeed, beginning to press very seriously. Its effects upon those of the clergy whose incomes are wholly, or in part, derived from tithe, are exceedingly unfortunate, as we may see from the statements made by the deputation which waited upon the Archbishop of Canterbury on Monday. It was stated that one clergyman paid away 21 per cent, of his income in rates alone, exclusive