Lae's Food Supplies (Incl. Beer) Are Cut Off

Flooded Butibum

Out Of Control

LAE, Aug. 6.

IN the night of Sunday, August 4, more than usual of the generally weeping heavens fell in and around Lae; and by noon on Monday the police edict went forth—“ The Butibum bridge is collapsing, and all traffic is halted.”

There is no other bridge over this turbulent stream, 500 yards north of Lae, and no practicable crossing.

Everything uses the ancient iron bridge—the logs which come out of the Busu forests, to keep the large Voco Point mills going; the sanitary carts, which night-service the town; the perishable food supplied out of the big freezer.

But panic really set in when it was found that the available beer stocks in the hotel and the clubs were on a 36-hours basis. The main reserves were in the freezer, and the first reports said the Butibum was “gone finish”. Lae’s social life, and comfort, move and have their being on cold bottled beer.

The engineers were more comfort ing. They said that if Public Works strove day and night, the bridge might be fit for lorries again in two or three days. But the torrent has eaten away and collapsed the south bank, and patchwork could not make the present structure secure. If these

big logs are to be regularly trani ported, as in the past two years, new and rather expensive Butibui bridge must be provided.

All last night, in pouring rai under arc lights, lines of natii labourers worked on the collaps; bridge-end; while bar manage kept a stern and tortured eye < the dwindling beer supplies.