Fiji's Highway

Completed

New Road Around Viti Levu Pro vides Fascinating 2-Days' Drive For Tourists

117ITH the completion in the middle of Yt May of the Suva-Sigatoka Road the main island of Viti Levu, upon which Suva is situated, is circled by a fine highway (says the “New Zealand Her ald”).

Less than 10 years ago road communi cation east of Suva was limited to a road between Suva and Naduruloulou, a dis tance of about 17 miles. From that point to the northern and western sides of the island bush tracks were the only means of lar. communication, and all traffic to the ..her side of the island was by sea.

Having linked up the northern road and the east coast, a start was made with the Suva-Sigatoka section, a dis tance of 86 miles, on the west coast.

With this work completed it is now pos sible to leave Suva and drive around the island in comfort in two days.

Increase in Motor Vehicles Th,e effect of this road programme up on motor traffic, and upon the number of people moving from place to place, is very marked. Motor buses have increas ed from 151 in 1927 to 775 at the end of 1937, and private cars have also in creased considerably.

Upon the native and Indian population the provision of roads has had the ef fect of developing their travel sense, and natives and Indians who previously had no intention or desire of visiting the capi tal or oth,er parts of the island now travel frequently from village to village, or from one district to another.

The tourist trade will benefit consid erably by the completion of the road, particularly in the Sigatoka district, where beach cottages and native huts have been erected and furnished for the convenience of visitors.

The country traversed by the 300-mile road includes mountain, bush and river scenery and, in the Sigatoka district, typical Islands beach scenes.

Natives Appreciate Motor ’Buses.

In the northern districts, of which Lau toka and Ba are the two main centres, sugar-cane dominates the landscape and this industry is reflected in the popu lation, which is mostly Indian, and in the general activities of the district, all of which centre around this industry.

Where natives and Indians previously were compelled to walk from district to district along bush tracks on journeys that often took them several days, they now sit by the roadside awaiting the first ’bus that comes along, and in this very convenient manner travel with their goods and produce along the road from village to village.

In some instances the road runs through the centre of what a few years ago were remote villages, and the intro duction of the motor ’bus and its easy form of travel has wrought a big change in the outlook and lives of many of the native people.

Mr. T. A. Carr, of New Guinea Gold

fields Ltd., reached Sydney by the

“Macdhui” from T.N.G. on May 26.