FIRE IN RABAULCHINESE SUFFER.HALF THEIR TOWN WIPED OUT.
A cable message which confirmed previous reports of a fire in the Chinese quarter of' Rabaul was received by the Minister for Home and Territories (Senator Pearce) to-day. The message, which was sent by the Administrator an New Guinea, stated -that about one half of the Chinese section of the town had been destroyed. Mr Gairodus, an officer of the Department, who recently visited Rabaul, said today that the area contained ramshackle buildings which crowded together. There were also several Chinese stores.
CHINATOWN.
Mr. F. J. Wilson, of Messrs’ Dalgety and Co Ltd, who has just returned from an extended visit to the Mandated Territory, stated last night that the European population of Rabaul numbered approximately 1000, and consisted chiefly of the, employees of the various departments controlled by the administration and the Expropriation Board-a body constituted to take over and manage the cocoanut plantations and businesses expropriated from the Germans at the time of the occupation by the Australian Imperial Forces in September, 1914. The portion of Rabaul known as Chinatown was occupied almost solely by Asiatic’s, and comprised the chief business centre of the township, many of the Chinese inhabitants being wealthy citizens of long standing. Owing to frequent seismic tremors, the buildings were entirely constructed of wood on concrete foundations. The whole of Chinatown was composed of business and residential premises, closely huddled together, and occupied by Chinese storekeepers, boot- bookmakers, tailors, cabinet makers, and laundrymen
THE EUROPEAN .QUARTERS.
The European quarters were mostly scattered on the foreshores of the harbour, and there would be little danger of any outbreak of fire resulting in the demolition of the whole town. There were three hotels in Rabaul, two in the Chinese township, conducted by Chinese, and the other in the European quarters. All the administrative offices were scattered and there would be little danger of them being damaged by a fire. The New Guinea Club, the Rabaul Club, and Messrs Burns, Philp's stores and offices were all a considerable distance away from Chinatown. The Chinese and Japanese population probably would total 1000. (The Brisbane Courier Wednesday 14 November 1923)