Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-18
Shipping
MILLION IOBE spent ON
IMPROVED WHARFAGE AT FIJI

The big sugar and other agricultural
interests In the Fills have succeeded
IN winning their hard struggle for bet
ter and mere modern wharfage facili-
ties at Suva, the port OF entry for Ca
madam Australian liners. according to
a story brought 10 Honolulu with the
arrival Of the steamer Mariana
For years the several lines OF steam
ers making Suva in the course of di-
rect trade, with neighboring Islands,
the Colonies and the Pacific Coast of
the Emitted States and British Column
bia have been sorely handicapped be-
cause Of the inadequate wharfage.
The Fijian government has settled
upon a plan for the betterment Of the
system of wharves there The whole
scheme OF wharfage, when built. will
cost about s775.0OO. The first portion
IS estimated TO cost about $550.0O0
From inquiries made, the traffic viii
quite warrant this expenditure, and a
: very satisfactory return Is expected
According TO statements made by Of
ficers of the Mariana, the accommoda
ton there at present consists OF
causeway of timber-work running out
from the mainland and terminating In
two wharves in the shape of an l..
The inner wharf is very small, and can
accommodate small vessels alone. The
outer one is larger, but not sufficient
10 provide a secure place either for
large vessels suchas die Mariana to
lay alongside or room on the wharf to
deal with cargo. The puzzle is to make
a broadslde wharf In a new position.
1000 feet long. and reclaim the land
between IL and the shore-approxi-
mately 80 acres. 1t is intended TO con-
struct 100 feet of this wharf, the re-
naming 900 feet to be made later. The
reclaimed land viii be OF great value
TO Suva. as there Is very little level
land in the place, and the hills rise
almost directly from the waters edge.
The preliminaries in connection with
this work were all arranged at. an in
terview wnh the governor and the com
missioner for works.
II is the general belief expressed on
board the Mariana that there are no
engineering difficulties 10 contend with
The mode Of construction Is similar to
that which the Sydney Harbor Trust
is carrying out at WoollOomooloo Bay
than around Sydne1. so that it is not
considered safe to construct the
wharves at Stva with turpentine piles
which are considered almost proof
against the Cobra borer Herewith
out some protection. This will be eff
fected by reinforced concrete placed
over the piles. the spaces being filled
with loose concrete.
All the labor on the wharves is done
by Fijians, bat the labor that is used
on the farms. and which win be en-
ployed fn constructing the Wharves,
will be Indian coolies The Indian pop
ulation Is increasing rapidly. but the
Fijians are on the down grade. The
two classes Of people ssem to work
amicably with one another
That the new wharves are to be
built in anticipation Of the operation
Of two new Canadian Australian lin
ers of much larger tonnage than the
Mariana. the Zealandia or the Makura,
is foregone conclusion.
The first section Of the work will
probably take from two to two and a
half years. and. the remainder. If taken
in hand Immediately, another one and
a half years. or four years altogether.
When completed the wharves will pro-
vide accommodation for four vessels
OF about 10000 tons EACH The re-
claimed area will be of considerable
value in connections with proposed
railway the Fijian government is very
anxious to construct between Suva and
the Rewa and Mainimala rivers.
The place being tropical, growth is
naturally very great, the chief prod
ucts being sugar. bananas and cocoa
nuts. The reason the capital was
changed from Levuka to Suva was due
apparently TO the better harbor and the
greater quantity of land suitable for
erecting commercial houses.
The prediction was made during the
stay of the Mariana at Honolulu that
large shipments, Of material for the.
proposed wharves would soon be for
warded from both Vancouver as well
as sydney. in the Canadian Australian
liners. Already the authorities are
seeking dredging machinery in order to
commence the great work