Curse

War Not All A

What it May Do for Solomons

AN interesting statement published

recently, and one that may have an important bearing on the future of the Solomons, was that the Henderson Airfield, on Guadalcanal Island—the scene of much bitter fighting and now occupied by United States forces—is near the area which was taken up and was being prospected by the syndicate called “Solomon Gold Exploration Limited,’’ which was formed by the Theodore interests of Fiji and Sydney some time before the outbreak of the Pacific war.

Many miners and syndicates have attempted to exploit the gold, which definitely exists in Guadalcanal, but always they have been defeated by the rough and broken character of the country and the difficulty of maintain ing communication.

It is obvious that war has tamed Gua dalcanal as nothing else could have done.

When it is over, and this large island (and others) again is open to civilian enterprise, it follows that further gold prospecting there will be promptly under taken. By then. Guadalcanal will have roads and ports and at least one great airfield, which will be within comfortable flying distance of such places as Bris bane, Rabaul, Noumea and even Suva.

Word was received in Fiji in January, that Mr. John May, who was a chemist employed by the Colonial Sugar Refining Company at Labasa, Fiji, before he went overseas to serve in the air force, has been killed.