Samoan Entomological
p. 38 · Read in the full issue
Collection
AN expedition to Samoa organised by Otto H. Swezey and Elwood C.
Zimmerman, under the auspices of the Bishop Museum of Hawaii, collected between 30,000 and 40,000 insect speci mens. It is said to be larger than all the other collections of Samoan insects ever assembled. Mr. A. C. Turnbull, Act ing-Administrator of Western Samoa, assisted the collectors during their three months’ stay.
Scientists state that there are still large areas of virgin, forested territory in Samoa from which no insects have ever been obtained.
These additions emphasise the import ance of the Bishop Museum as the nat ural centre for entomological research in the Pacific. The collectors took back a number of species hitherto unknown to science.
Salamaua-Wau Road
THE various New Guinea interests who are pressing for the construction of a Salamaua-Wau road took full advantage of the recent visit of the Aus tralian Territories Minister to place before the Government all the available data in favour of the early construction of the road. The Minister took a keen interest in the matter, and inspected, as well as he could from the air, the alter native routes. He has promised that he will bring the matter before the Aus tralian Government for consideration.
Of course, the real problem has passed from engineering to finance. Even if all engineering problems are solved, there is no indication of where the money is to come from in wartime.