From 16Th Century

Pub To Nadi's

Latest Hotel

About two years ago George and Edna Cathcart were running a 16th century pub at Henly in Arden in England’s Midlands.

The pub had bags of atmosphere

and, of course, a ghost.

Today George and Edna are run ning the latest Nadi area hotel, The Gateway (a stone’s throw from the airport). It also has bags of atmos phere-injected by the ebullient George and Edna—though, not, as yet, a ghost.

George Cathcart became manager of The Gateway when it opened in August. However, he and his wife are not newcomers to Fiji.

From 1957 to 1964, the Cathcarts were managing Fiji hotels for the Northern Hotels and Cathay chains.

Then, four years ago, they made a sentimental journey to England.

During their stay they leased three pubs (the 16th century one was called Ye Olde Red Lion). They had to move about a bit to keep warm.

As George puts it: “We’d hear that it was warmer in another part of the country, so we’d move. And it was warmer. Two degrees warmer.”

Taxes too much

Their sentimental journey back fired, though. The Cathcarts found that they couldn’t get sentimental about high taxes and rain, and it wasn’t long before they started get ting sentimental about Fiji. So, early last year, they returned.

George says that although The Gateway (58 air-conditioned twin rooms, at £5 for double occupancy) is basically a transit pub, he is con fident that he can manage to get people to stay longer than the usual one or two nights of the transit guest.

After all—as George points out— there’s a lot to see around Nadi, and the Beachcomber cruise from nearby Lautoka is excellent value.

Though Fiji is now home to George and Edna, they still have a bit of England in them—or, more accurately, in their flat. The place is chock-a-block with pikes, duelling pieces and antique chairs. Taking pride of place on an ancient side

board is a decanter container with a prudent Victorian lock (‘To stop the servants getting at the port,” says Edna.) There will always be an England, but George and Edna took theirs to Fiji.

New Plans For Solair

Solair, the BSIP’s internal airline, may go international—an applica tion has been made by the company to operate a weekly air service to Kieta, Bougainville.

The airline is proposing a Friday service from Honiara to Kieta, call ing at Munda, and has also asked for permission to call at Gizo when the airfield there becomes opera tional.

Under the proposals, passengers would leave Honiara at 8 a.m. and be in Kieta by 10 a.m. The return times would be 11.30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Capt. J. Seaton, of Solair, said that it was planned to link up with the existing internal services in P-NG operating to and from Rabaul.

The licence application is subject to objections and representations.

If it is approved, it will be subject to further consideration by British and Australian authorities, since the proposed service is on an inter national route.

Fiji Airways Flight

Plans For 1969

Fiji Airways’ flight schedules for 1969 include a once-a-week flight to Tarawa, twice-a-week flights to Honiara, and a weekly flight to Port Moresby, via Honiara, which is due to start on April 1.

From February 1, Fiji Airways’ re vised schedules will be: • Three flights a week to Tonga, departing Nadi on Tuesdays, Thurs days and Saturdays. • Once a week to Apia, depart ing Nadi on Wednesdays. • Twice a week to Honiara, de parting from Nadi on Thursdays and Saturdays and returning on Fridays and Sundays. After April 1, the Saturday service from Fiji will be returning on Mondays. • Once a week to Tarawa, de parting on Sundays and returning on Mondays. Every second Sunday, the service will extend to take in Nauru.

The proposed Port Moresby flight is expected to depart Nadi on Satur days, stop over at Honiara that night, arrive in Port Moresby on Sundays.

The return flight will leave Port Moresby on the same Sunday, spend the night at Honiara and return to Fiji on Monday.