Fantastic Prices For

Buildings

Disposals Sale In Hebrides

From Our Own Correspondent

Santo. Oct. 5.

ON September 18, the PT Base on the Segond Channel was sold by auction.

It was built by the Americans dur ing the war, and was sold to the French Government in the New Hebrides at the end of hostilities.

The Base comprised mainly buildings which were all in good condition when sold, but at the time of the sale, two years later, they were in various stages of dis repair. Equipment ranged from water tanks to stationery.

The auction began at 8 a.m., and prices rose rapidly. Buyers from New Cale donia forced the prices up, sometimes to a remarkable degree. In the morning, Quonset huts were being sold in lots of three, for a total of 30,000 francs. By afternoon, they were bringing that much each, minus floors.

New Caledonian buyers said they were forced to make high bids. They needed the equipment and they could not get it from Australia. By the time the huts are pulled down, shipped and re-erected in New Caledonia, the cost will be fantastic.

The taking of the inventory, and the sorting of the equipment for the sale, were done by the Condominium Engineer, Mr. R. Bartlett. M. Comette, of Vila, conducted the sale on a commission basis.

Consumers of electricity in Suva, Fiji, have again been warned to reduce their consumption of electricity. If this is not done voluntarily, rationing will be en forced.