Hebrides

Volcanoes in the New Hebrides Geological Survey by Noted French Scientist

TJAVING completed an important geo logical mission in the New Hebrides for the Natural History Museum of Paris, Monsieur Edgar Aubert de la Rue, who is a Doctor of Natural Science at the Paris Museum, recently arrived in Sydney by the Capitaine Illiaque, accom panied by his wife.

Dr. de la Rue spent 18 months in the Condominium, mostly on Ambrym and Tanna, where his particular study was the geological observation of the vol canoes there. Madame de la Rue accom panied her husband on all his expedition, even ascending to the summit of the active volcanoes.

In 1934, M. de la Rue led a scientific party to carry out ethnological, geological, and zoological investigations in the French possessions in Western Pacific.

His experiences and observations during that expedition were published last year in Prance in a book entitled L’Homme et les lies. * Before leaving Australia for Canada en route to Paris, Dr. de la Rue, who is an anthropologist of note, delivered an in teresting lecture in Sydney to members of the Alliance Francaise. He spoke on the native tribes and the flora and fauna of the New Hebrides, and his address was illustrated by a number of 'striking lantern slides.

The three accompanying photographs taken by the scientist during his recent geological survey show: Top: Mount Marum (12,000 ft.), the highest volcano on the island of Ambrym.

Middle: Ravine made by the tropical rains on the slopes of Mount Bembow, the largest active volcano in the New Hebrides archipelago. On the left, Mrs.

E. Aubert de La Rue with the party’s three native guides.

Bottom: A panoramic view of the broken, mountainous country surrounding Bembow. What appears to be a river running through the 70ft. ravines are the grey ashes and silt carried down the mountain sides.