Opening Of New Wing In Popular Suva Club

Fiji’s Defence Club—it now has 500 members—had the Governor and Lady Freeston along on April 22, to the official opening of the new wing, which cost £15,000. The additions make the Club one of the biggest and most impressive, in appearance, in the Islands. The finely designed entrance is directly opposite the new Cathedral, now being built. When it was founded, in 1915, the Club had one room, a billiard table, and five chairs. To-day, it comprises not only club rooms, but also bed-rooms, bath-rooms, kitchen, etc. The Governor, after he and his wife had been conducted over the fine new block by the Club president (Mr. L. G. Usher) and Mrs.

Usher, said the ball-room probably was the finest of its kind in the South Pacific.

Mr. George Johnson was the architect; Fiji Builders, Ltd., were contractors; and the furni ture was made by Millers, Ltd. Native woods have been most effectively used.

In the photograph, from right to left, are: L. G. Usher (president) at microphone; L. A.

Lawler (life-member and former president and secretary); A. S. Martin (immediate past president, partially obscured): The Governor, Sir Brian Freeston (patron); A. A. Bagg (trustee and former president); W. Caldwell (life-member and former president); W. E. Goodsir (vice-president): H. H. Hemphill (secretary).