The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-11 00:00:00

TRURO, Nov. 9, 1839.

The election of a new Mayor took place to-day, when
there was a large muster of Town-Councillors ; 14
Liberals were present, and 8 Tories. Robert Michell,
Esq., proposed that W. Bullmore, Esq., surgeon, should
be the new Mayor, in the place of W. Hodge, Esq.
The motion was seconded by W. Warren, Esq., and
carried unanimously. Edmund Turner, Esq., M.P.,
then proposed a vote of thanks, in terms of high eulo-
gium, which was warmly responded to, to the late
Mayor, for his conduct during his Mayoralty. The
motion was seconded by G. Simmons, jun., Esq., and
unanimously carried. The Mayor and late Mayor re-
turned thanks.

DEVONPORT, Nov. 9.

Our election for Mayor took place this day, and was
warmly contested. Messrs. Abbott, Hancock, Rees,
l3lackmore, Rundle, and Ramsey, were severally put to
the vote. Mr. Hancock, Esq., of Stoke, a County
Magistrate, was elected. Mr. Hancock is a Whig in
politics.

PLYMOUTH.
Joseph Cookworthy, Esq., M. D., a Liberal also, was
elected Mayor of this Borough without opposition.

ST. GEORGE'S, UANOVER-

SQUARE.

(From the Morning Post.)
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE V. THE PARISH

OF ST. GEORGE.

The appeal of the Duke of Devonshire against the
Poor's-rate of the above parish was heard on Saturday
last, at the board-room in Mount-street,Grosvenor-square,
before a bench of Magistrates assembled in Special Ses-
sions, for the purpose of determining appeals under the
Parochial Assessment Act. Mr. Clarkson and Mr.
Moseley (solicitor), attended on behalf of his Grace to
conduct the appeal. The Vestry Clerk appeared on
behalf of the parish.
Mr. CLAItKSON addressed the Bench, and stated that
Devonshire House and grounds were rated according to
the form prescribed in the Parochial Assessment Act,
and the gross estimated rental from the rate-book
appeared to be 2,7501., and the rateable value 2,5001.
He proceeded to show that the gross estimated rental
was an amount which included the whole charge of
rates and taxes payable or paid on account of the
premises under consideration, including the insurance
and the annual cost of repairs necessary to he done
to commaud the rateable value, and argued that the
rating of the mansion and grounds in question was ex-
cessive and unequal in comparison with other properties,
and that the sum of 2501. beyond the rateable value
for the gross rental was incorrect, as h far greater sum
than that was paid by his noble client without includ-
ing the cost of repairs and insurance, which facts he
would substantiate by the best professional and other
evidence, and proceeded to call
Mr. John D. Paine, architect, of Lincoln's Inn-
fields, who stated that he had had considerable expe-
rience in the erection of noblemen's residences under
Sir Jeffry Wyatville, at Windsor Castle, and at Staf-
ford House, the Duke of Sutherland's ; and also in
valuations under the Parochial Assessment Act,
having surveyed Lambeth and St. Paul's Covent-
garden parishes, including the two theatres royal,
and in other valuations, parliamentary, private,
and parochial. He had taken accurate plans
of the mansion and grounds in question for the
Duke of Devonshire, and made a valuation thereof, and
in his opinion the rateable value of the property was
1,9601. per annum, and the gross estimated rental
2,6661. per annum—the former showing a reduction of
5401. per annum, and the latter only 841., from the
amount claimed by the parish. These amounts were
the results of detailed estimates and calculations. The
house and grounds occupied an area of 3 acres, 3 roods,
1 pole.
Mr. Burton, upholsterer and house-agent, stated
that he had had very considerable experience in the
marketable and letting value of mansions and property
at the west end of London, having recently let Spencer
House, Lord Cottenham's, and other similar pro-
perties ; and, in his opinion, Devonshire House and
grounds, if let on lease, would not realise an amount
above 1,800/. per annum, though perhaps not above
1,500/.
The Vestry Clerk then stated that the assessment in
question had been made in 1832 and 1833, in the valua-
tion of the parish by Mr. Rainy and Mr, Harrison,
which gentlemen he should call to support the accuracy
of the assessment.
Mr. Rainy said that, with Mr. Harrison, he had
made the valuations before the Bench, and was satisfied
of the accuracy of the rateable value of Devonshire
House being '2,500/. and gross rental, 2,7501., Rs he I
would engage, were the property in the market, to let
the same on lease for 3,000/. a year.
Mr. CLARKSON wished to know how Mr. Rainy had
areived st this conclusion, and only added 250/. to the
rateable value, when his Grace's taxes amounted to
306/. 19s. Sd., without 4001. for repairs and insurance.
What were his ealettlAtions ?
Mr. Rainy—l refuse to give them.
My rateable
value is 2,5001.
An altercation upon the point, which lasted some time;
ensued, Mr. Rainy persisting in his refusal of all details
of valuation, and Mr. Clarkson observing that were they
before a Superior Court he would wrest the particulars
from him, or Mr. Rainy must abide the result of his
refusal. _

Mr. Harrison, surveyor on the part of the parish,
justified the valuation of 2,500/., but, like his colleague,
refused all particulars.
On cross-examination he stated that, in the re-assess-
ment of the parish, he had observed the instructions of
the Vestry, in equalizing the rating for a certain amount
(the gross rental of the parish), being the sum proposed
to be raised and given to him, and it was his duty to
divide it proportionably among the several parochial
assessments, 2,500/. being the proportion of the Duke of
Devonshire.

Mr. CLARKSON—A most singular valuation.
Mr. Nelson, architect and surveyor, Charles-street.
had valued several parishes under the Parochial Assess-
ment Act, and had let and purchased much property in
Piccadilly and the vicinity of Devonshire House. He
considered that Devonshire House and grounds would
not, on lease, realize above 1,8001. a year under the
usual covenants, and from the detail calculations with
which he was prepared proved the rateable value and
gross rental not to exceed 1,9601. and 2,666/. per annum.
Mr. Paine was recalled and examined in the detail of
his estimates, which were taken according to the esti-
mated value of the land, added to the interest of the
cost of the building, this yielding an estimated rental
of 2,360/. per annum, from which he deducted 400/.
for the average annual cost of repairs and insurance ac-
cording to the terms of the Act, which left a rateable
value of 1,960/. a year ; and then to the former amount
he added the sum of 306/., the taxes paid by the Duke,
which produced a gross rental of Oa, 1,960/. being
the utmost to be expected for the premises on lease by
calculation, though in the market he did not think above
1,800/. could be obtained.
Mr. CLARKSON then replied, after which the Chair-
man s::kted that it was the unanimous determination of
the Bench !hat the rateable value should be determined
at 2,000/. per being 40/. above Mr. Pane'sassessment.

The Vestry Clerk said the Ve`trY "uld
reserve to
itself the alternative of a further appe.:l to the Quarter
Sessions.
Mr. CLARKSON—Before adopting such a proceeding,
would it not be better to amend the gross rental columnthroughout the rate-book, otherwise the whole rate
might be quashed on the appeal ?
The Sessions then adjourned. This parish, valued
on the principle of a proportionate division of a given
amount, succeeded last year on appeal in quashing the
county rate.