Vila Celebrates Bastille
p. 25 · Read in the full issue
Day
Prom a Special Correspondent VILA, July 16.
THE annual 14th July celebrations in the New Hebrides to commemorate the fall of the Bastille and the rise of the French Republic, marked Vila’s first completely post-war celebration of bi-national importance to approach pre-war standards.
The French Resident Commissioner (M. A. Menard) assisted by Mme. Menard received and entertained British and French residents of Vila and those “country” residents in “town” at a garden party in the grounds of the French Resi dency on the afternoon of the 14th. As planned, the garden party resolved itself into a public ball at the Stade, the pic ture theatre-cum-centre of all public and joint affairs.
A threat of rain—at any other time a welcome promise since Vila’s tanks are getting dry—cleared in the morning and pbviated the necessity of a quick change in plans from out of doors to indoors.
As with all days of national import to both British and French. July 14 and 15 were Condominium holidays.