Solomons’ Disturbed

December

Vessel “Hygeia” Wrecked

From Our Own Correspondent TULAGI, January 27.

DECEMBER was rather a disturbed month in the Solomons.

A sou’-west blow did very little damage in the main part of the group, but almost wiped out the timber settlement at Vani koro, only one house being left intact.

The Medical Department’s vessel Hygeia, which has done yeoman service, particu larly during the Sinarango trouble in 1927, w r as completely wrecked. No lives were lost, but not a vestige of the vessel remains.

The Veronica, the D.O.’s vessel at Vani koro, has had to come in for repairs, but was sufficiently seaworthy after her ex perience to bring in the survivors from the wreck of the Hygeia.

An earthquake, or rather a week of earthquakes, did great damage on the Island of Guadalcanal, being felt also on other islands. Tidal waves and the usual damage was done. At the moment, there appears to have been little or no loss of life, but quite a little damage to property.

M. Cauet, of the French Colonial Ser vice, left New Caledonia for France by the Eridan on February 1.

Mrs. Aumuller, wife of the B.P. manager at Samarai, Papua, is at present spending furlough in Sydney. Mrs. Aumuller won fame as a nurse in the Great War—she has about a dozen medals from various nations.