What Do Know

About Bougainville?

ONE of the bigger and one of the least known islands of the Pacific, Bou gainville, is receiving some attention, nowadays.

Geographically, iWs the most northerly of the large islands of the Solomons Group. But,; politically, it is part of New Guinea. Under the Anglo-German Agree ment of November 8, 1899', Bougainville became German territory, and was added to the Bismarck Islands and North-East New Guinea, to become an important German Pacific Administration. It was occupied by Australian forces In World War I, and became a Territory Mandated to Australia in 1920.

The island, although it contains about 3,000 square miles, has never been developed or fully explored by Australia, although it is known to contain a vast system of plains and plateaus, valleys and mountains, rivers and jungles, capable of much development. There are some 20,000 natives. Since the Jap invasion, however, the island has been penetrated by large forces of Americans, and later by other large forces of Australians, and these men have shown considerable in terest in the possibilities of the place, and are eager for information.

The following letter, from NZ1903 Flight Lieut. R. Rodda, RNZAF, c/o Flight Lieut. lan Morrison, Medical Officer, Group 622, RAAF, Pacific, is typical of many in quiries received: — “Having been stationed on the island of Bougainville for a period, and being a member of the New Zealand Alpine Club, I have become interested in the two vol canoes, Mounts Balbi and Bagana. I have made an ascent of the latter.

“Recently I have been trying do ootain some record of previous ascents and ex ploration of these two mountains, and

find that facts are few. I have been told that two Austrian geologists lost their lives' on Bagana in 1913, and that this mountain was probably din bed by two Government officers just before the present war. I have also been informed that a Government officer, Mr. English, climbed Balbi about the some time. He also completed the first crossing of the island.

“The above facts are very meagre, and I am anxious to find out the dates and extent of any exploration or ascents of these two mountains.”

If any “PIM” reader has information about the mountains of Bougainville, he is invited to send the data direct to the New Zealand officer, whose address is given above.

We have sent to Lieutenant Rodda the following extract from a “Report on the Volcanoes of the Territory,” published in Canberra in 1939: — “The next active centre is Mount Balbi, the more northerly of the two active vol canoes on Boungainville Island. This is described by Mr. Costello, of the District Services, who has crossed near the top, as two peaks, joined by a saddle 305 metres (1,000 feet) lower. The highest point is about 3,100 metres (10,170 feet) above sea level, and is giving off a small cloud of steam. The other peak appears to be quite extinct.

“Mount Bagana has been reported to be in eruption several times within recent years, and is apparently fairly contin uously active. An eruption took place on Sunday, May 15, 1938, the dust from which travelled as far as Kieta. The crater was visited three weeks later by Mr. W. M. English (cadet) who climbed the mountain to a height of 1,585 metres (5,200 feet) where he was forced to turn back owing to a hot loose rock and clouds of steam. He described the volcanic de posit of considerable area to the south west of the mountain, composed of dust,

pumice and rocks which were still hot at the time of his visit. Boiling springs and hot quicksands also occur well down the outer slope. Above 900 metres (3,000 feet) steam issues from between the rocks at numerous places, while above 1,500 metres (5,000 feet) a dense cloud of smoke and steam is given off.”