Sir Frank Mappin Leaving His Home

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 1

Sir Frank Mappin Leaving His Home

fNetn Zealand Press Association! AUCKLAND, July 25. Sir Frank Mappin, who in May, 1962, gave his home in Mountain road, Auckland, to the nation, will vacate the residence towards the end of the year. He said today that the home and its 12 acres of grounds on the lower slopes of Mount Eden would then become available for use as the residence of the Governor-General in Auckland.

“It will become available when I go,” he said. “I am nearly 82 now. It is becoming a bit too much for me."

He had not decided yet exactly when he would leave the residence at 119 Mountain road, but he planned to move to somewhere smaller. Under the trust deed for the gift the Mappin home would not have become available for use as a Vice-Regal residence until 12 months after Sir Frank Mappin’s death. The home is a noted Auckland beauty spot, with the residence set in a park-like garden. There are orchid houses, an extensive display of exotic trees and numerous shrubberies and rock gardens.

The Chancellor of Auckland University (Sir Douglas Robb), although the university had not yet been officially

informed of Sir Frank Mappin’s intended move, said tonight that the announcement appeared to bring the provision of an alternative Government House closer and thus brought nearer the making over of the existing one in Princes street to the university. The Government House site has been designated by the Government for university expansion. Since 1963, the Vice-Regal ballroom has been used for lectures while Sir Bernard Fergusson has occupied the remainder of Government HS(ise.