NEW ZEALAND CLUB BURNED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1874, 7 September 1918, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND CLUB BURNED.

A FIRE IN SALISBURY,

London, July 12. The New Zealand Soldiers’ Club in Endless Street, Salisbury,, which was the first club opened by the New Zealand War Contingent Association, and was for (he convenience of our men on Salisbury Plain, was burned down on 2nd July. The building, known as the Central Hall, was erected 113 years ago as a Congregational Chapel, and was used for that purpose for seventy years. It was subsequently ('(inverted into a free library, until the erection of the Carnegie Library in Salisbury. Two years ago it was taken over as a New Zealand Soldiers’ Club, and since than if has been a popular resort for Now Zealand, Australian, British, and Canadian soldiers, and lately for Americans. Miss A. Chilton Button (Auckland), who was in charge of the club, locked up shortly after 10 p.m., and the fire broke out before 3 a.m. the following morning. There was a furious gale blowing, and it was impossible to save the place, though the fire was prevented from spreading. The New Zealand War Contingent Association lost over £SO in paper money, in addition io books and papers, and the members of (he staff have lost a good deal of their private belongings. The New Zealand ling was rescued in a half-burned condition, and Miss Button intends to take it with her to New Zealand. Miss Hay was formerly in charge of the elul), and lately Miss Button has been there, assisted by Mrs Gluey and Mrs Rough, of New Zealand, and by four English ladies. The Town Council of Salisbury passed a resolution of deep sympathy with the New Zealanders in (lie loss of their club. It is not known yet what stops will be taken to replace it. Members of the Town Council spoke in very high praise of the work it had done.