ORAKEI CLUB

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 166, 16 July 1942, Page 6

ORAKEI CLUB

GOLF HOUSE BURNT

EARLY MORNING BLAZE

A mass of charred wood and twisted iron, 1111 two chimneys standing starkly air.nng the ruins, is all thai it'll la in.-, ol the polf house at ( 11,ikt i. Thr cluhhoii-e was swept liy !ne hi'tweni a..10 and ti a.III. tunay I' ll eiiicn never had a chance to save the building. which stood on tin' i■ \i hist■ 11 promontory of Orakei i'oint. Tin.' approaches were difliculi, by way ol a strep and muddy road winding up the hillside. Water was iaid on to the clubhouse, hut I here were no lire plugs. In any < a.-.e the blaze had a strong hold when lire ' brigades arrived from Tamaki and Kcmuera stations. The hla/.e hi up the early morning sky and could he seen hy resilient.s lor miles around. Huilt ahout nine \ ears ago the clubhouse was extended, hy the addition of a room, and renovated ahout eighteen months ago. liquidation of Club Formed about, ten years ago, the Orakei Coif Club's fate was practically sealed at the prize-giving ceremony on November 2!) of last year. Mr. Lan Simson, president, explained that the company which had the financial responsibility for leasing and maintaining the course and buildings tound that it was running at a loss, and decided to liquidate. Notice to th,u. clicet, had been given to the Crown and the club. Having ascertained that the Crown would net require the property for State housing, the committee had the building and equipment valued, on the basis of the value for removal of the building. A tentative offer of £500 was made for all equipment, timber and iron. The company's estimate was £875, and it had stated its willingness to accept £825. Subsequently members declined to ensure the club's continuance, rejecting a proposal to raise the necessary money by debentures, decreased membership and the certainty of further depletion, owing to the war, being the deciding factors. Accordingly the company went into liquidation, and the buildings were sold but remained on the site.