A Port For Tavua
p. 55 · Read in the full issue
Goldfield
THERE has been controversy in Fiji for some weeks concerning the best means of providing the new Tavua gold field with port facilities.
On the north coast of Viti Levu, almost opposite the goldfield, which is several miles inland, there is a poor kind of port at Vatia Point, which is the western corner of Tavua Bay. To develop this port so as to make it of real use to Tavua township and the Tavua goldfield would be costly.
The alternative, it appears, is the further development of the port of Lau toka. The present wharf at Lautoka is owned by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company and is used by other interests by arrangement with the C.S.R. Co. Even under present conditions, there is much congestion in Lautoka port. It is pointed out that the Government for 30 years has collected wharfage from importers at Lautoka, representing altogether about £50,000; and it is urged that at least £30,000 of this be used in the construction of a new wharf at Lautoka, opposite Namoli village.
The argument is that it would be better for all concerned if additional wharfage were provided at Lautoka and the mer chandise, machinery, oil, etc., required for the Tavua goldfield were transported along the existing good road 40 miles from Lautoka to Tavua. This would serve the whole area of Northern Viti Levu and would do away with the necessity
for the expenditure of money to provide wharfage at Vatia Point.
It is said that if there are to be several mills established on the Tavua field and much oil is required for their motive power, it would be simple to place a pontoon in Tavua Bay alongside of which steamers could lie, and to carry a pipeline from the pontoon to the shore.
It is argued that if a port were estab lished at Tavua it would have to be a port of entry, which would mean a com
plete staff and a costly upkeep, and that the revenue from same would not pay the interest on the outlay. Such a port would serve only Ba and Tavua —which could be served more efficiently and profitably from a larger port in Lautoka.
Miss Harriet Muir, a certificated nurs ing sister, sailed from Sydney by the Macdhui on September 30 to take up duties at the Methodist Mission’s hospital at Salamo, Papua.