More Nauru Records
p. 96 · Read in the full issue
In March
From a Special Correspondent NAURU, April 10.
THE announcement by Mr. R. B. Kirk, Nauru manager for the British Phosphate Commissioners, that the record monthly drying figures, established in May, 1940, had been exceeded by 800 tons in March of this year, is eloquent of the magnificent effort made by all con cerned since the Commissioners resumed their activities after the war.
Phosphate raised in May, 1940, was 101,500 tons while the new record stands at 102,300 tons.
The extent of this colossal output, can not be fully realised until the numerous development projects have been taken in to consideration. Number One priority over the past twelve months has been the erection of houses for the native popula tion. In that time a hundred homes of concrete blocks and wood-frames have been completed and many more are in various stages of erection. These houses are large and airy. They are in every way superior to the palm-thatch, or rusty iron, huts they replaced, but the dreamer, perhaps may sigh with regret when the last of these age-old habitations has given way to the march of time.
The building of more houses for the European employees has been kept up, and a fine new hospital to cater for the 1,500 Chinese workers has just been completed.
It is a scant five years since the BPC stepped ashore to face its gigantic task of rehabilitation. There was chaos every where. Machinery lay rusting, phosphate cars had been cemented into strong points for machine-gun crews, cableway towers stripped of their steel for a dozen other purposes. Hardly a building stood.
All this, plus the shortage of all types of material in the post-war world, stamps the creating of an all-time record at this stage, as a truly remarkable achievement.