Solomons' Gold

IT is learned authoritatively that the High Commissioner for the West ern Pacific (Sir Harry Luke) is taking active steps to advance the Solo mon Islands gold-mining industry “from the stage of unsystematic scratching to practical mining”. Sir Harry Luke is understood to have expressed his opinion that, in view of the present state of the copra industry, the only hope for the Solomons lies in the development of the Territory’s mineral resources.

Mr. F. L. Smith, newly-appointed manager of the Bank of New Zealand in Fiji, arrived at Suva in February, ac companied by his wife and daughter.

A son was born in February to Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Armstrong, of Nama tanai, New Britain.