Salamaua 'Drome
p. 54 · Read in the full issue
Plea for Concrete Strip
rPHE aerodrome at Salamaua, New Guinea, although it has been subject in recent months to much “improvement,” is still in a deplorable condition. It is on low-lying, swampy land and whenever there is heavy rain—which is frequently —the surface becomes loose and sticky.
Public works men have been busy with a tractor, levelling and rolling the aero drome; but experts consider that this labour is practically wasted. They say that the only thing which will make this ’drome satisfactory is a concrete strip.
The cost of laying down a concrete pave ment, over the length of the field and up to 75 yards wide, would be £2,000 or £3,000; but critics contend that actually this money would be well spent because it would ensure the safety of aeroplanes and passengers and would remove a serious and constant anxiety.
The Salamaua ’drome ranks with Wau and Lae as the busiest in New Guinea, and it is strongly suggested that if —as seems certain —the future transport of the New Guinea gold industry is to de pend upon aeroplanes, it is the duty of the Administration to make the Salamaua aerodrome safe and trafficable.
Mr. and Mrs. R. S. Fell, of Wau, New Guinea, arrived in Sydney with their baby son, Allan, by the Macdhui on January 24 on six months’ holiday. Mr.
Fell is a member of the staff of New Guinea Goldfields Ltd.
Mr. John Sinclair Dods, one of the oldest settlers in Savu Savu Bay, Fiji, died at Suva on January 10 at the age of 91. A Scotsman, he lived for a time in Australia and New Zealand before reaching Savu Savu in 1867 to take up planting at Valaya and Nayavu estates.