Weather Station

At Vila

New Australian Installtion

From Our Own Correspondent

Vila. Dec. 15.

IN order to assist the various Trans pacific air services in which it is interested, the Australian Govern ment -has established a first-class meteorological station here at Vila, in the New Hebrides.

It is of assistance not only to the big air-liners crossing from Australia to Fiji and North America, but also to the regional services in the Southwest Pacific, which are steadily increasing in numbers.

This station, which is being run by that genial and well-known Australian, Bill Roberts, collects meteorological in formation from various parts of the Group, the resultant data being then telegraphed to weather offices in the Pacific A visit to the meteorological station, situated high up on one of the slopes surrounding the charming little town of Vila, shows that the Australian Govern ment has spared no expense in provid ing modern equipment. Mr. Roberts is training natives to operate similar stations in other parts of the New Hebrides, and the weather information it is thus hoped to collect will be of in estimable value to aircraft services operating in various parts of the South Pacific.

Mr. and Mrs. F. Fleming arrived in Rotuma for a temporary stay in mid- October. Mr. Fleming is relieving Dis trict Officer, post-master, wireless operator, etc., while the regular holder of these many positions, Mr. J. R. Rigamoto, is on sick leave in Suva. Mr. Fleming was for five years Administrative Officer on Can ton Island. Mrs. Fleming was with him there for part of the time.