Pacific Islands
pp. 64-65 · Read in the full issue
Motor Traffic In The
Ocean-Wide Organisation For Oil Distribution
THE number of motor vehicles in the Pacific Territories astonishes the visitor—until he remembers that in these hot and humid tropical places no other form of transport is available, and a motor car can be purchased much more cheaply in any of the Territories than in heavily-taxed Australia or New Zealand. In large territories, such as New Guinea, Fiji, New Caledonia and Tahiti there are fleets of motor vehicles, avail able for all purposes. Even in small places like Norfolk Island and Nauru, there are so many cars that maintenance of the few miles of roads has become a serious problem.
So far as petrol distribution is con cerned, the two major oil companies were in early, and already they have an effi cient organisation (regular shipments,
large -storage depots and kerbside pumps) in most of the Pacific centres.
The illustrations herewith show a part of the Vacuum Oil Co.’s installation in Fiji. At the beginning of this century
Henry Marks and Co. became Vacuum agents in Fiji, and case supplies were distributed from a warehouse on Nubu kalou Creek, Suva, opposite the present power station.
In 1910 the firm of Morris and Hed strom, with head office at Levuka, ac quired the business of Arthur Joske, Ltd., Suva, and, being incorporated as Morris, Hedstrom, Ltd., established their head office in Suva. In 1921 the firm acquired the interests of Henry Marks & Co., Ltd., and with them the agency for the Vacuum Oil Company Pty., Ltd. Vacuum took over
a newly-erected warehouse at Walu Bay and sold their old building and land.
Three years later a warehouse was opened in Levuka, from which Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Lau were serviced, and 1928 saw the construction of a warehouse at Lautoka, the biggest sugar centre in the Colony. Consumption increased steadily, and in 1933 Vacuum established a bulk petrol installation on reclaimed land near the waterfront in Suva.
The pictures on the opposite page show; Top. —Installation, Depot Road, Suva.
Second.—Case warehouse, drum-filling shed and warehouse superintendent’s residence at Walu Bay. Third.—Fuel oil installation situated opposite the Suva wharf. Bottom.—A Fijian service station.
J. Jones’ establishment in Renwick Road, Suva.