AMERICAN FORCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25562, 15 June 1944, Page 4

AMERICAN FORCES

TWO AUCKLAND HOTELS TO BE VACATED DECREASE IN ACTIVITIES (P.A.) AUCKLAND, June 14. The Grand Hotel in Princes street, one of Auckland's best-known licensed houses, 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 at the end of next month. The Americans ax-e providing alternative accommodation for themselves at one of their existing barracks. The Grand Hotel is owned by Messrs Hancock and Co., Ltd., and it was’’stated that the premises would be re-opened for public use as speedily as possible after possession had been returned. 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 necessai'y to leasp another building for use as an auxiliary naval officers’ mess. The building selected was the Arundel Private Hotel.

It has become possible to vacate both buildings because the progress in the South Pacific has inevitably had its effect upon 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 the 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 officers from other areas. Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt also stayed at the mess during her New Zealand visit last year.