Solomon Islands.

From Our Own Correspondent.

TULAGI, March 22.

THE recent rise in price of copra re leased the usual optimism which is always so ready to bob up, whether or not backed by sound reason. But the why-and-wherefore man asks, “How many of the world’s millions of unemployed are back in regular work and so are once again capacity con sumers?”

Of course, there are other factors bearing on the price of copra, but none quite so important as this, and it is hard to understand how we are to arrive at the true “normal” price until this problem is solved.

However, we are very thankful for small mercies—even should the price again touch bottom —and we can, for the moment, extend our sympathies to rubber-planting brother, getting his penny seven-eighths per lb.

We are still in a backwater, awaiting results —or otherwise—of the recom mendations and resolutions of the November Advisory Council meeting.

Everything comes, etc., etc. —even if it is nothing!

Nut-Fall Mystery.

The Agricultural Committee has had another sitting. But nothing, so far, seems to have been hatched as re gards the nut-fall bug, which (or who) still goes undetected of his crime. One suffering planter suggests putting the matter in the hands of the police.

“Gold in Them Thar Hills?”

Considerable excitement has been caused, under romantic circumstances.

A native was heating some stones for the purpose of cooking his meal of fish, when one of them cracked in two, dis closing “money,” as the native usually

calls gold—or pyrites—in its native state. He took the find along to a mis sionary, who sent it south for assay.

Sure enough, the “money” proved to be gold.

Then the question arose as to where the stone came from originally—as it was found on a coral islet, on the edge of a lagoon, where “stones” are not.

Anyhow, the hearts of those con cerned are a-flutter with expectancy, and hope that this locality will yet prove to be the location of King Solomon’s Mines, as was supposed in days of old.

Even as one writes, one may see one keen, hard-working delver with a stick, in the midst of a cloud of dust, tearing into the side of a hill, in his efforts to find the lode, what time the other members of “The Big Six” en thusiasically urge him on to increased effort, with mixed promises of iced beer and rewards based on the here after.

This is not the only gold mining ac tivity in these parts. There is an other, older and more secretive com bination, which is said to have some thing really good up its sleeve, awaiting the framing of the new mining regulations.

If enthuiastic anticipations count for anything, between the two factions we should soon be able to wipe out the British national debt.