Drought On Thursday Is.
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Thursday Is., Dec. 3.
THERE is a serious water shortage on Thursday Island. The town reservoir is quite empty, and has been cleaned out in readiness for the expected rain. The reserve supply that was stored in the abandoned military underground tank on Green Hill is at an end.
The town’s supply gave out on Novem ber 22, and for almost a fortnight there have been no indications of rain. About a dozen residents have private wells, but the remainder have to carry water from three shallow wells on vacant allotments.
Government officials can be seen daily carrying home a kerosene tin of water for a bath. Community washing takes place around the public w'ells and with T.l.’s large coloured population there is a heavy drain on the supply.