Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 1655

NETHERLANDS INDIES

Island of Celebes

C287

Makasser.-Makasser, the most important harbour in the eastern part of the Archipelago is situated on the south-west point of Celebes. It possesses a road well protected by several coral islands and two breakwaters, approximately parallel with wharves at the shore, at a distance of about 1,200. metres. The wharves consist of a quay-wall with a length of 1,340 metres where ships of 9 metres draught can moor even at low tide and a screw pile wharf, 500 metres long and 10 metres broad, with a depth alongside of 7.50 metres at low tide. A harbour for sailing boats and native vessels with an area of 20,000 square metres and 26 little screw pile jetties has been made. The harbour is equipped with sheds; liquid fuel and coal can be obtained. the end of the year 1932 altogether a sum of Fls. 14,000,000 had been devoted to the construction of the Makasser harbour works apart from the costs of the railway con-

nections.

Island of Borneo

At

Pontianak. Pontianak, which is situated at the Kapoeas river, is the principal trading centre of the West Coast of Borneo. There is a wharf nearly 300 metres long behind which sheds are built.

Bandjermasin. ---Bandjermasin is situated near the South Coast of Borneo on the Martapoerariver, a few kilometres above the junction of that river with the Barito river. The accommodation exists of a screw pile wharf with a length of 150 metres and sheds behind it.

CIVIL AVIATION

The civil airlines, which are run by the Royal Netherlands Indian Airlines Com- pany (K.N.I.L.M.) form an important and valuable supplement to the other means of transport. The following lines are now in regular exploitation:

Batavia-Sydney, vice-versa; twice weekly; this service provides a through con- nection with the Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij service from Batavia to Amsterdam.

Batavia-Saigon, vice-versa; weekly

Batavia-Bandoeng vice-versa; twice or thrice daily according to season (70 miles) Batavia-Samarang-Surabaya, vice-versa; once or twice daily (420 miles). Batavia-Palembang-Singapore, vice-versa; weekly (700 miles).

Batavia-Palembang-Pakanbaru-Medan, vice-versa; weekly (1, 080 miles). Batavia-Surabaya-Bandjermasin-Balikpapan, vice-versa; twice weekly (585

miles) with weekly extension to Tarakan (363 miles) from Balikpapan. Surabaya-Den Pasar (Bali), vice-versa; twice weekly (237 miles). Surabaya-Macassar, vice-versa; weekly (500 miles). Besides operating airlines the K. N. I, L. M. engages in aerial cartography and photography; also taxi-flying, joy-riding, etc.

Douglas, three-engined Fokkers and De Havilland Dragon Rapide machines are used, while several Lockheed Super Electras operate the Australian route. The K. L. M. (Royal Dutch Airlines) maintain a thrice-weekly service between Amsterdam (Holland) and Batavia. The planes leave Batavia on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, covering a distance of about 9,000 miles in 5 days.

The Empire Flying Boats carrying the all-up air mail provide a thrice-weekly service between Sydney and Southampton, the Singapore-Sydney section being operat- ed by Qantas Empire Airways in conjunction with Imperial Airways. These Short Flying Boats have aroused considerable interest in the Netherlands East Indies by their size and comfort and the inter-continental traffic is rapidly increasing.

Since the outbreak of war in September, 1939, air communications have necessarily had to be modified. Qantas Empire Airways have succeeded in maintaining a twice weekly service on the Sydney-Singapore section of the Australia-England Empire air route. The K. N. I. L. M. have been able to maintain their internal air services, but the K. L. M. have experienced difficulty in maintaining a modified service to Europe. The present terminus is at Naples whence passengers proceed by rail to Holland.