Has Gone

...But This One

Forever

The equivalent of London Bridge burning down on Norfolk Island would be a fire at the convict era public library, con

taining also a newly completed

museum and broad casting studio.

And that’s exactly what hap

pened early in the morning of

May 27.

When Islanders awoke on May 27 they found only four blackened walls and a caved-in roof for their public library. Within lay the remains of the public library’s books, newly bought broadcasting equipment, police office records and the museum.

Luckily most of the exhibits destined for the museum had been placed in the prison cells for safety while the museum was renovated.

The Sirius and Bounty canons were also safe.

The museum had in it at the time, a shell collection valued at $2,000 and a relief plaster map of the island made in 1956. A room down stairs used by the Norfolk Historical Society, containing a restored convict table and a handsome wooden lectern, was also badly damaged.

An iron hand crank from the old mill and a hand drawn plough of the convict period survived the flames.

Rumour had it that a lighted cigarette end might have started the fire. However on June 16, at an inquest into the fire evidence was

taken from 14 people. The results of the inquest are not yet known.

But the historic building will never be the same again, even though fate spared the main part of the historic relics it was meant to house.

Built in 1836, the building was originally the officers’ mess for the regiments stationed on the island in the convict era. In later years it served as the liquor bond store and the residence of the Official Sec retary. Now it is a burnt out shell.

It’s expected that a substantial grant will be forthcoming from the Commonwealth Government to re build the library. But it will never be the same again. An appeal for funds within the island has already met with much support and the energetic Norfolk Islander has already set October 10, 1974, as a date for completion, the bi-centenary of Captain Cook’s discovery of the island.

A boost for the fund came from the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Paul Hasluck, and Lady Hasluck, who visited Norfolk on June 7 to celebrate Bounty Day, the day when 194 Pitcairners landed on the island from the Morayshire in 1856. They offered the islanders their sympathy and left a personal cheque for $lOO.

They were to have officially opened the new museum.

Sir Paul Hasluck, as Minister for Territories, had done much to help conserve Norfolk Island’s historic buildings. • Brigadier N. A. M. Nicholls, has been appointed Commissioner of Police, Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary. He succeeds Mr. R. W.

Whitrod who resigned earlier this year and takes his appointment on August 14.