Seeking A New Developmental Road In Fiji

ALL visitors to outer Fiji are struck with the “backwardness” of Fiji roads. On Vanua Levu, the second largest island in the group, there are (save for a few miles near Labasa and a few more miles near Savu Savu) no roads. Hon. H. B. Gibson, European Member for the Eastern Division on the Legislative Council, has been a persis tent advocate of the rights of Vanua Levu to more and better roads, and has set his heart on a road to join ud the reading systems on each side of the island.

Many routes have been tried, but the middle of the island is mountainous.

Mr. Gibson is now trying a new route, which runs down the coast to Naduri (the centre of native administration for the province of Macusta) and thence overland to Savu Savu Bay, through the great Seaqaqa area, which is at present entirely unsettled, but is much sought after by Indians.

Chiefly owing to the energies of Mr.

J. E. Windrum (District Commissioner) and the road overseer (Mr. C. Huon) a dirt track has been recently made from Labasa, through Nabala and Naduri, to Navakasobo Village; and the photo graphs below depict scenes on the new road.

Left: Mr. Gibson, MLC (centre), making the first journey through by car from Labasa, greets Father Verbays outside the Nabala Catholic Mission Station, near Naduri. Right: Mr.

Gibson, the district engineer, and the road overseer arrive at the Native Provincial Office, Naduri.