Ask Phoebe: Ex-orphanage an A-grade eyesore

What is happening to Carlile House, the former children's home in Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn? It has been owned by a Tongan church for the past 30 years or so, but has been boarded up for a couple of years at least. It's on the council heritage list, and is reputed to be haunted. Chris Griffiths, Auckland.

This is a building of considerable significance, and is indeed has category A protection on the council's heritage list.

It was built in 1866, the first purpose-built orphanage in Auckland, for "boys of good character". Trust money provided by Sir John Logan Campbell helped with the building, which was later used as a live-in training institute for boys.

The council's heritage manager, Nicola Short, says it has been working with the United Church of Tonga, the owner of Carlile House, for over five years in an attempt to get some restoration or even maintenance under way.

The council would like to see the building's heritage respected, and has a conservation plan on file, but the Church appears to be either unwilling or unable to undertake such a large project.

There are grants available to help with this, and the first task would be to weatherproof the building to prevent further deterioration. Because the building is protected, it cannot be pulled down.

Local legend has it that there was a fatal fire in the home and it is haunted by the ghost of a nurse bewailing her lost children.

An interesting situation exists on St Lukes Rd at the intersection with Fowlds Ave. Traffic turning right from St Lukes into Fowlds have a Give Way sign, which means you have to give way to all traffic that you would otherwise hit. However, I find that traffic travelling from the Sandringham Rd direction towards me and turning left into Fowlds usually stops to give way to the right turning traffic. I wait and point to the Give Way sign to let them know that I have to wait for them, but a lot of traffic disregard the sign and continue with their turn. Can you clarify the correct procedure please? Sandra Schick, St Lukes, Nigel Cato, Sandringham.

You have understood your Road Code, Sandra. It states that at a Give Way sign, you must give way to all other vehicles, except those who have stopped at a Stop sign. So cars at the Give Way sign on St Lukes Rd must wait for the left-turning traffic before they turn.

If the Give Way sign was not there, then the left-turning traffic would have to give way to the right-turners. But it is, so they don't.

I drive my car with total respect towards cyclists and give them all the room they need. I use the Bardia St/Winscombe St/Lake Rd intersection in Belmont, and when turning left into Bardia from Lake, I'm always concerned that a cyclist using the cycle lane inside me will continue straight on. Even with careful use of the rear vision mirror, cyclists can be hard to see, especially in poor light, and one of these days there will be an accident and a damaged cyclist. Any advice other than vigilance? Cyclists do not improve their case for road-user consideration by ignoring or circumventing red lights. Do they think they are bulletproof? Ken Gilmour, Takapuna.

Vigilance is the key, I'm afraid. But you can make life a little easier for yourself by watching out for cyclists in the cycle lane during the last half kilometre or so before your intersection, and then allowing them to pass on the inside before you turn left.

Cyclists can also make things easier for themselves and other road users by wearing high-visibility clothing and doing their bit by watching for a left-turn signal from a car.

And yes, they obviously do think they are bulletproof. Or else they are idiots.