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Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 46, 24 February 1930, Page 8

Maranui's New Club House. One of the finest club houses used by a surf club in Now Zealaud will be opened at Lyall Bay,- when Maranui's new home, for which tenders have been called, is finished. Up-to-date in every way, the big room will measure 54ft by 18ft. The club room in modelled on Australian lines, and it will be ready, for next season. The old building will ho handed over to the- City Council for a girls' bathing shod> and will help to relievo congestion on the beach. With the exception of a small subsidy from the City Council, all the money has been raised by the club. Old German Machine Guns. A collection of old German machine guns, of the type on exhibition in Albert Park, has been flying in the basement of the Town Hall, unwanted for a long time, states tho "Auckland Star." A suggestion that they may be disposed of was brought before the Auckland City Council on Thursday. ; The town clerk reported that some time ago he had communicated with the Officer Commanding, North Auckland Military District, asking what suggestions he could offer for the disposal of the guns.' A ! reply had been received to the effect that it might be possible •to get some of the country local bodies to accept them. A recommendation that local bodies near Auckland bo asked whether they desired any of the guns was adopted. Disappointing Eesponse. . Definite indications that there is no great desire on the part of suitable settlers in Southland or northern districts to take advantage of Government assistance to secure land are afforded by the poor response accorded to the opening up of a second' block of land in Southland, applications for which closed at Invorcargill last week, states the "Southland Times." This is the Fern Hill block, comprising 1494 acres, situated in the vicinity of Centre Busli. The property is said to eousist of first-class land, watered by the Oreti river and small streams, and it is claimed .to be eminently suitable for mixed farming. The property was divided into five sections, ranging in area from 256 acres to 317 acres. Little interest was shown in the opening up of the block,1 and only'two applications were- re-1 coived at the Lands Office. Both applicants entered alternative , applications for sections in the event of their first choice being unsuccessful, but no ballot will bo necessary in the circumstances. , The applicants have yet to satisfy the Southland Land Board of their ability to make a success of the venture. .Instead of merely examining applicants and' holding a ballot,' the board will now have to consider the disposal of the. sections. It is only four weeks since applications closed for seven sections of the Tamatea block (the first settlement opened in Southland by the present Government). The response* ini'this. instance was^also very disappointing, as only eight intending settlers made application for^ sections.