GOSSIP FROM THE QUEEN CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18055, 15 January 1927, Page 10

GOSSIP FROM THE QUEEN CITY.

(Special to the ‘•Star.*’) AUCKLAND, January 15. Tyres Stolen. An unusual type of theft occurred at Blockhouse Bay one evening this week. A motor car was left outside its owner’s gate, and when he returned from work next morning he found that all four tyres, valued at about £3O, had been stolen and the car pushed into a hedge. Sheerlegs to Go. The Auckland Harbour Board has decided to demolish the sheerlegs at Calliope Dock, which have been a landmark on the Waitemata for the past 20 years. The machinery has already been sold for a little over £4OO, and the work of dismantling the remainder of the equipment will be carried out at the convenience of the Board.

When the removal of the sheerlegs was first suggested, one of the reasons given wasnhat they would be a menace in case of war, as they indicated the position of the Admiralty oil tanks, and could be seen from Tiritiri. “ The sheerlegs have been a white elephant with us.” stated Mr H. R. Mackenzie, chairman of the Board, last evening. “ They cost the Board about £34,000, and to-day the saleable portion will realise only about £IOOO. The Admiralty has now agreed to the demolition of the sheerlegs. as it is realised it would pay better to make use of the services of the floating crane, Mahua. During the past 20 years the sheerlegs have been used only about three times, so that to all intents and ptirposes they are useless.”