Rain at Port Moresby

Six Months’ Drought Broken

From Our Own Correspondent PORT MORESBY, October 6.

RAIN has come at last to Port Moresby, after an absence of 6 or 7 months.

To show the seriousness of the position a public notice was put in The Papuan Courier by the Director of Public Works, to the effect that from October 2 not more than 100 gallons of water would be supplied from the town reservoir to any one tenement in a period of one month.

The shortage of water had become so alarming that the usual supply of 1,000 gallons on application had been withdrawn and a supplementary supply had been provided by two new wells at Konedobu, outside Port Moresby.

The rain tanks of the houses were nearly empty, and householders were taking their washing out to the Laloki River, 10 or more miles from Port, in order to cope with the situation. It is many years since rainfall has been so low. Some three years ago, public meetings were held in Port Moresby, which resulted in a request, through the Papuan Government, for a loan at interest from the Commonwealth, to provide a water supply from the Laloki River.

At the same time the Administration applied for a further loan for the extension and repairs of the wharf. Times were bad, and a lump sum less than the aggregate of the two amounts asked for was found by the Commonwealth.

The amount was not sufficient for both purposes and the Administration decided that the wharf was the more urgent. The water supply was, therefore postponed.

When times improve the question is likely to be revived. ... ===