“Kama”

New Hebrides’ New Volcano

IN November PIM we published a photograph of a new New Hebridean volcanic island off Tangoa that had been taken by the pilot of a TRAPAS Catalina. We indicated that it had first made its presence known in September, 1949, but it seems that it was much earlier than that. Two New Hebridean residents have written us, as follows : LOCATED between Cape Cone on the south-east of Epi, and Lubalea Point, the north-western extremity of Tongoa Island is a new, active volcano.

This makes the fourth active volcano in the Group (the others are at Ambrym and Tanna). The newcomer is the sub ject at present, of some controversy as to who first sighted it.

It was originally reported about October, 1948, as a black and white mass, spray ing sea water and stone as high as two thousand feet in a straight column.

Mr. K. Soilway, while captain of Mr.

G. Seagoe’s Avalon claims to have sighted the eruption some few hours prior to M.

E. D. Kerromen, while on a south-bound voyage from Santo.

Older residents of the Group claim a similar volcano raised itself on the same site during 1923-25, remained visible for some time but sank again.

This time it shows some indications of joining up with a small rocky islet off Tongoa as it is growing steadily. This may indicate that it is here to stay.—J.

V. Hoey.

“Kama”

THE distinction of being the first people to land on the island, went to Mr.

R. F. Crozier, British District Agent

Malekula, and the brothers Dick and Les Kerr of Tongoa on December 20, 1949.

Exercising the right of explorers, they have named the island Kama. Kama is between Epi and Tongoa Islands, just off a shoal patch, and two thirds of a mile from the old island of Soleano which disappeared about 1911. For the peace of mind of mariners, the location is 16°50’ south, 168°32’ east.

At the end of 1948 and in the early months of 1949, Kama was quiet and probably sunk beneath the sea, but for the past nine months it has been active and growing' in size so that now the peak is near 300 ft. in height, the island roughly circular, and perhaps a mile in diameter. There is an eruption every few minutes when stones, steam and mud are thrown to a height of several hundred feet, with a larger eruption every ten to fifteen minutes.

Landing between eruptions, the party planted an inscribed board. They found the soil too hot for comfort and growing rumblings suggested departure for health

reasons, after a stay of a few minutes.

As they rowed the dinghy through the surf, a rain of stones from a larger erup tion covered the site they had left.

Examination of a stone from Kama showed it to be old coral rock thoroughly impregnated With once molten black soil. —W. B. Roberts.

Vila.

December 23, 1949.

Miss Stella Freeston, daughter of the Governor of Fiji, left Suva by the Matua on February 26 to continue her studies at Canterbury University College, New Zealand.

A meat and sanitary inspector has been appointed by the Western Samoan Ad ministration. He is Mr. K. Stuenzner.

Lack of proper inspection of meat and other foodstuffs was criticised during the last session of the Legislative Assembly.

A Gilbert Islander employed on Can ton Island, mid Pacific airways station, was flown from the island to Fiji in mid- February for an urgent operation. When the Canadian Pacific airliner touched down at Canton on February 11 he was suffering from acute appendicitis. CPA had him in hospital, in Fiji, in a master of hours where he was operated oh suc cessfully.

The New Volcanic Island.