Public Works At Samarai

What W and H Team Has Done

Letter to the Editor IN defence of the activities of the Works and Housing team of Samarai, about whom an article appeared in the September issue of PIM, I would like to point out that the following work has been carried out in that area:— • Three “R” type houses under con struction, two of which are almost com pleted. • Steel framework erected for the new Government Stores. • Steel framework erected for the W. & H. joinery shop. • Power-house building and machinery dismantled at Ladava (Milne Bay) and building re-erected at Samarai. • Power plants overhauled, some of which are awaiting spare parts. • Two machines installed to maintain an 18-hour daily electricity service, and another machine is in the process of in stallation. (Blackouts in this area are ex tremely rare.) • Administration Mess and Bachelors’ quarters erected. • Customs Officers’ residence erected. • Erection of Administration transit quarters. Although of a temporary nature (and locally known as “House Pig”) it has proved helpful to many Ad ministration personnel who have been stranded in Samarai, as the island has no boarding-house or hotel. • New electric light poles, overhead wires and street lighting installation have been completed. • All Government buildings, except those to be removed, have been re-wired and brought to a safe condition. • Government launches and trawlers, trucks and jeeps serviced. • Lighting plants installed at the Native Labour Compound, Ebuma, and at Government out-stations at Misima and Esa’Ala. • Repair work and painting carried out on District Officer’s, Doctor’s and EMA’s residences. • Repair work and painting carried out on European and native hospitals, which were in a shocking condition. • Repairs carried out on the wharf, pending the closing of tenders for the re building of same. • Native hospital and doctor’s resi dence at Mapamoiwa (Fergusson Is.) are in course of erection.

Much more work has been carried out by this team, including the erection of their own quarters, equipment store and the fitting-up of a lathe and shaping machine in their workshop; and I think this will prove that their time in this area has not been wasted.

Evidently the gentleman who wrote that “no evidence of the building of European houses in Samarai was found” must have viewed the island from a porthole of the* MV Bulolo, which anchors out and stays approximately 30 minutes to discharge passengers and mail—or from the boat deck of the MV Malaita.

I am, etc.,

W And H Ex-Samarai.

The Fiji Motor Vehicles (Third Party Insurance) Ordinance of 1948 will come into force on April 1, 1950. Thenceforth it will be compulsory for motor vehicle owners to take out third party car in surance. Insurance companies operating in the Colony are now working out pre mium rates which, contrary to overseas practice, have not been fixed by law.