Abemama
p. 30 · Read in the full issue
New Administrative Centre For G and E Colony
rpHE new administrative establishment X of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, which was formerly at Ocean Island, is to be at Abemama Atoll, in the Gilbert group; and preparations are afoot to erect the necessary buildings.
There is little community of interest be tween Ocean Island and the G & E Col ony. But on Ocean, owing to the large phosphate workings under the British Phosphate Commission, there is a large European community; and it was found convenient to have the administrative establishment there also—communication with the atolls being maintained by the motor yachts “Nimanoa” and “Kia-Kia.”
The Residency building on Ocean was one of the largest and finest in the South Seas.
The Pacific War almost entirely de stroyed this set-up. During the Japs’ two years’ occupation of the Gilberts, the installations and buildings on Ocean were smashed; the Residency was practically demolished; the secondary establishment at Tarawa Atoll was completely destroyed; and the useful vessel “Nimanoa” was sunk. It became necessary to rebuild, not only the G and E Colony establishments, but also the British Phosphate establish ments on Ocean and Nauru islands.
Apparently, it has been decided to sep arate the Ocean Island set-up from the G and E Colony administrative set-up; and, for this purpose, one of the Gilbert Islands atolls has been selected as the site of the future administration.
The choice lay between Butaritari, Tarawa and Abemama, each of which has a good lagoon capable of sheltering large ships. Butaritari probably is the best, but it is too far north; the main islet at Tarawa, which formerly housed a con siderable establishment, was stripped bare by the Japs, when they prepared for the terrible Battle of Tarawa; so the obvious choice was Abemama. There was one other possibility—Tabiteua, a large atoll, and the most heavily populated of all. It has more than one claim to notice —but probably its lagoon does not offer the same shipping accommodation as Abe mama.
It is reported that the plans for Abemama include the erection of 30 houses for Europeans, 70 houses for natives, and the provision of a light and power station, water supply and a sewer age system.