P-NG Wharf Problems

Almost Solved

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Port Moresby, April 1.

IT has been a slow business but at last progress is noticeable in getting Territory wharves into useable con dition.

At Lae the Milford Haven wharf is completely finished, and this has vastly improved the handling of ingoing and out-going cargoes. The Works and Hous ing Department is erecting a big transit shed alongside the wharf, and other work is going ahead for wharf area roads and other facilities. Lae undoubtedly now has the jump on other Territory ports in re spect to its wharf facilities.

Mr. Tom Huxley has the contract for the new Madang wharves, and it seems that this port, too, will see the end of its wharf problems within the next six to eight months. Similar progress is being made at Samarai where Frazer and Lampherd have the wharf contract.

Although the Works and Housing De partment called tenders for construction of the first section of the new wharf at Kavieng, apparently the bids on this job were not satisfactory, since it has been decided that the Department will do the work with its own men. Machinery and materials are being accumulated and the job will be under way very soon. This first section comprises two wharf heads which will meet requirements for hand ling overseas and inter-island cargoes.

Later a main section between the heads may be added.

No announcement had been made up to the end of March about the contract for the new Port Moresby wharf though this is expected shortly. If somebody in Government Offices does not get a move on, the old wharf may tumble into the sea before the first piles of the new wharf are driven. The.old structure rocks and shakes as the trucks rattle over it, but so far constant repairs have managed to keep the remaining useable section from tumbling to pieces.