700Proof of ownership of, or leasehold estate in, land

700 Proof of ownership of, or leasehold estate in, land

700 Proof of ownership of, or leasehold estate in, land

(1) In any legal proceedings under this Act, in addition to any other method of proof available—

(a) evidence that the person proceeded against is rated in respect of any land to any rate under this Act is, until the contrary is proved, evidence that the person is the owner or lessee of the land, or

(b) a certificate furnished by the Registrar-General under subsection (2) with respect to any land is, until the contrary is proved, evidence—

(i) that the person described in the certificate as the proprietor or owner of the land was the owner of that land, and

(ii) that the person, if any, so described as the lessee of the land was the lessee of that land,

at the time or during the period specified in the certificate pursuant to subsection (3)(b)(i) or (ii).

(2) If—

(a) written application with respect to any land is made to the Registrar-General under this subsection by the general manager of a council, and

(b) the Registrar-General has been paid the prescribed fee,

the Registrar-General is to furnish to the council a certificate setting out such of the particulars specified in subsection (3) as are recorded in the Register kept under the Real Property Act 1900 or in the General Register of Deeds maintained under Division 1 of Part 23 of the Conveyancing Act 1919 and as the Registrar-General is able to ascertain from the information about the land furnished in the application.

(3) The particulars are—

(a) the situation and a description of the land, and

(b) in the case of—

(i) land subject to the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900—the names and addresses of the person registered under that Act as the proprietor of, and any person so registered as a lessee of, the land at the time or during the period in respect of which the application is made and the date of registration of the instruments under which they became so registered, or