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Honiara Club Loses AH in Fire

From Our Own Correspondent HONIARA, April 27.

HONIARA had a spectacular fire on April 16 (Easter Saturday) when the big, open, leaf-roofed premises oc cupied by the Guadalcanal Club were burnt to the ground.

Erected during the war as the BSIP De fence Force Officers’ club and mess, the building was lent to the newly-formed Guadalcanal Club in 1945, and served as a meeting-place and entertainment high spot for locals.

Starting on -the seaward side, the fire was not detected until the flames sud denly swept across the building. At that time, nearly all Honiara residents were two miles away at a cocktail party. There was to be a dance that night which meant that considerable stocks of liquor and cash were on the premises. The only Club property saved comprised a few old chairs and tables. The Club com mittee estimates its loss at £600.

Before the fire spread to the kitchen and restaurant operated by Ho Man, which formed one wing of the building volunteers and kitchen staff managed to remove icebox, safes, crockery, etc. The restaurant has now re-opened in tem porary quarters converted from the as yet unused native market. The Club meanwhile is homeless.

No specific reason for the fire has been determined. Attention has' been focused on the need for an organised fire-fighting

unit in Honiara. It was fortunate on this occasion that a land breeze carried burn ing debris out to sea instead of menacing the adjacent leaf-roofed buildings of the

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