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p. 32 · Read in the full issue
Capital Still Goes On
AFTER 31 years as engineer at the Cable Station on Fanning Island, Mr. C. W. Brent, with his wife and child, had an interesting cruise lately through the Gilbert Islands, on his way to Suva.
Mr. Bren'tJ reports that the Gilbert and Ellice Administration is still un decided regarding its future headquarters.
At present Bairiki, an islet in Tarawa lagoon, is being used; but there are only 58 acres on Bairiki and the place is cramped and inconvenient.
As a result of the great battle there in 1944, Betio islet (in Tarawa, close to Bairiki) is a wilderness; and it is un likely that that islet will be regarded now as offering any possibilities. Practically all the palms on Betio were destroyed, but young palms are now springing up gener ally. There are only a few natives there.
Building materials are being brought to Betio from other islands. There is a large quantity of American machinery lighting plants, road graders, cranes, lorries, and so forth—lying near the old wharf on Betio. This stuff was bought from the Americans by the G. and E.
Government, and there is a small work shop staff there trying to keep it in con dition. It should be useful and valuable, some day.
The cancellation of the plan to use Abemama atoll as headquarters came about when it was found that Abemama lagoon is not deep enough for the ships that are likely to maintain communica tions in the future.
It was believed in the Gilbert Islands that some decision might be reached when Mr. Maude (Resident Commissioner) returns from his long leave.
MR. BRENT said he left Fanning Island with regret. The community there is very isolated—but it is a contented and peaceful place. There is a staff of 10 Europeans, with their families, on the Cable Station, and they have 21 Chinese assistants—artisans, me chanics. servants, etc. There are very large coconut plantations on Fanning, owned by Burns Philp interests, and the plantations are looked after by a Euro pean manager with about 80 Gilbertese labourers. Their headquarters are 5 miles away, across the lagoon, from the Cable Station. The G. and E. Adminis tration is eager to buy the Fanning Island plantations, with a view to the settlement there of a section of the sur plus population of the Gilbert Islands; but Government and Burns Philp have not been able to agree on a price.
Mr. Brent’s ship made a call at some of the Phoenix Islands, whereon the G. and E. Government during the past 10 years has settled some thousands of Gilbertese (the Phoenix atolls previously were uninhabited). Mr. Brent got the impression that the Gilbertese are happy and prosperous in their new home.