TO BE HANDED BACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 140, 15 June 1944, Page 3

TO BE HANDED BACK

P.A. AUCKLAND, June 14. The Grand Hotel in Princes Street, one of Auckland's best-known licensed hotels, is to be vacated shortly by the United States naval authorities. Another property which has been leased by the American navy, the Arundel Private Hotel in Waterloo Quadrant, is also to be returned to its owners. It is expected that both premises will be vacated by the end of next month. The Americans are providing alternative accommodation for them^ selves at one of their existing barracks. The Grand Hotel is owned by Hancock and Company, Limited, and it was stated that the premises would be reopened for public use as speedily-as possible after possession had been re-» turned. It was added that the hotel would be restored to its previous condition. Accommodation at the Grand has not been available to the public since June, 1942. It was taken over by the United States navy' as an officers' mess and in due time the then expanding American activities in New Zealand made it necessary to lease another building for use as an auxiliary naval officers' mess. The buildingselected was the Arundel Private Hotel. It has.become possible to.vacate both buildings.because progress in the South Pacific has inevitably had its effect j.ipon American activities in New Zealand. The American navy had used the Grand and the Arundel for quartering and messing navy and Marine Corps officers. These have included officers on local headquarters establishments and officers from combat areas on visits to Auckland. Among the latter have been nearly all the senior naval officers of the South Pacific area and other high ranking offlcei's from other areas. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt also stayed at the /mess during her New. Zealand visit jlasf year.