Rebuilding New Britain
p. 26 · Read in the full issue
Survey of Chief Town Commenced
Pram Our Own Correspondent RABAUL, April 21, THE preliminary work of establishing the new “capital” of New Britain (in place of Rabaul of historic and tragic association) seems to have begun.
A survey is now being carried out by the Department of Works and Housing in Rapopo (near Kokopo) for the new town ship; and soundings are being taken for the wharf to be built at Kokopo, which will serve it. As Kokopo offers very little in the way of a natural harbour, the wharf will be built on a coral reef.
In the meantime, a road is being opened up into the Kerevat River in the Waren goi Valley where, it is planned, hydro electricity will be generated to serve the new township. This road, as far as the proposed powerhouse site, was expected to 'be completed for jeep traffic by about mid-May. A preliminary survey has also been made for a new air-strip on the Gazelle Peninsula, which presumably will serve the new capital.
However, the most welcome Works De partment achievement, as far as Rabaul residents (and visitors thereto), are con cerned, was the sealing of some of the dirt roads of that town soon after our first post-war consignment of bitumen arrived in the “Empire Mountain,” early in March. To date, St. George’s Crescent, Mango Avenue and part of Yarra Avenue have been sealed —and we await the second consignment before the work on township roads can be completed.
The first instalment has already re duced the dust-menace —and the swirling dust, beaten up by every jeep, car and truck, has been one of the most uncom fortable aspects of post-war existence in the town. Rabaul’s dust is particularly fine and has constituted a problem since the eruption of 1937. However, before the Jap invasion and subsequent Allied blitz, most of the town’s roads were tar sealed. These were destroyed, along with the rest of the town, in 1942-45 and until now have remained, except in the wet, rivers of powdery dust.
Another step forward —Yarra Avenue, once one of the town’s beauty spots, has been replanted with trees. The original trees were damaged during the 1937 eruption and completely ruined during the Jap occupation. What remnants re mained after the Australian reoccupation had to be cut down.
As well as local constructional progress, we have to report that contracts have been let for two large hospitals of per manent character —one for Sohano, the cost of which will be £15,000; and one for Kavieng, at a cost of £lB,OOO.