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Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21990, 14 January 1937, Page 8

' The Minister for Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) does not intend to dispossess tenants of cottages on Rangitoto Island, as was at first feared, according to a telegram received from Mr W. J. Lyon, M.P. for Waitemata, by the chairman of the Rangitoto Domain Board, Mr H. F. W. Meikle. Further information about the intentions of the Minister is not expected until he visits Auckland to confer with the Domain Board as to whether residents living on- the island will be allowed to remain there or be forced to leave. “Personally, I think the residents are doing no harm,” said Mr Meikle. “Grazing rights are let on other domains and the position here is little different. Rangitoto cannot be cultivated. It is a marine park and it would be unfair to disturb people now when they have been allowed to build for the last 40 years. There is plenty of room for botanists and pleasure-seekers on the island.” The Minister had no intention of cancelling the leases already granted, continued Mr Meikle, but it was doubtful what would happen should a lessee want to transfer his lease. The latest addition to the Railway Department’s equipment in Auckland and in Wellington is a 40-ton “wrecking” crane of the most modern type' in each centre, for salvage work after train accidents. The breakdown train is to a railway what the fire brigade is to a town or city. It is kept in the yard, coupled up and complete, ready to hurry off to the seme of an accident as soon as its crew can be assembled and a locomotive hitched on to it. Everything needed for dealing with a smash is carried on the train, including powerful jacks and other special gear. There is also accommodation for the men, who, after a bad accident, may be required to work night and day until the line is clear. Until lately such trains in New Zealand were provided with steam cranes capable of lifting seven and a half tons, but with the increased weight of rolling stock and the use of more powerful locomotives, it, was found that these machines were inadequate. Another drawback was that they were not designed to be hauled at anvthing like the speed which the track and available engine-power allowed. A resident of Waikino, Auckland, Mr Peter McAra, aged 76, set out from Hamilton this week on-a bicycle for Wellington. He carried ' a full camping outfit and said he hoped to complete the journey by January 23.