FIJI PUBLIC WORKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 1 November 1933, Page 4

FIJI PUBLIC WORKS

A BIG PROGRAMME BRIDGE TO COST £75,000 SUVA, Oct. 25. The first step in the adoption of a proposed programme of public works of a fairly extensive nature and which,'if carried' out in its entirety, would cost approximately £245,000. was made by the Fiji Legislative .Council to-day, when on the motion of me Hon. Alport Barker it was deeidettefL raise a loan for the construction of aWridge over t.re Rewa River at a cost of'approximately £75.000. The site of the bridge is 14 miles from Suva and it will span the Rewa River, the most important waterway of the colony at Nausori- which is the site of one of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company's mills. The bridge is an impoitant connecting link in flic trans-insular road which is just being completed. At present traffic is carried across the river, which is approximately 300 yards wide at this point, on a steam-driven pontoon, which is often out of commission as a result of floods or mechanical trouble. Except for a small gap yet- to be metalled tlie new road now provides access to Lantoka, Ba, Penang, Nadi and Sigatoka on the northern and north-western coasts of the main island of Viti Levu. upon which Suva, the capital of Fiji, is situated. Previously communication with these districts from Suva could be obtained only by air or by sea. Previously the road ran from Penang, some hundred miles from Suva, to Siga-t-oka. Now that the Suva-Penang action has been put through the road vwts. from Suva to Sigatoka, and if the road were continued for another 70 miles from Sigatoka to Suva the road would comole’telv encircle the island. It is realised that the ability to make this round trip around the principal island of the Fiji Group would constitute a big tourist attraction, and it has been decided that the proposal be forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies for his approval. The third proposal is to rebuild the Government buildings at Suva at a cost of approximately £90,C00.