Government Geologist

Exploring Guadalcanal’S

Mountains

Three Months’ Trek of Government Geologist

From Our Own Correspondent

Honiara, Oct. 20

THE British Solomon Islands Protec torate Government Geologist (Mr. J.

C. Grover) has recently returned from a three months’ expedition into Central Guadalcanal. After some weeks spent in examining the Gold Ridge and adjacent areas, the party moved, via Mt.

Tauna (3,030 ft.) and Mt. Jonapau (4,000 ft.), to the Sutakiki Valley where camp was made at the old mining site at Tam balusu at 1,700 ft.

The summit of Mt. Popomanisiu was reached on September 6 at an altitude of less than 8,000 feet. This summit is capped by low flat-tooped trees, their trunks thickly draped with moss. In some places tree trunks cannot be found, the ground being knee-deep in colourful and decora tive mosses and lichens in greens, whites and rust-reds. Opossums, rats, owls and eagles and large wild dogs were the only signs of life seen.

On Mt. Sambatangi (5,600 ft.) a bottle was found, believed to have been left by Mr. L. J. Davies, a well-known prospector of pre-war days. The paper inside it, however, was blank except for some native writing. Although the notch in the tree was located, the bottle reported to have been left by “Spearline” Wilson was miss ing, probably removed by natives.

At the summit of Popomanisiu, first climbed in 1939 by Mr Colin Burnside and Mr. Paul Kneen and later, in 1947, by three US Army surveyors, Burnside and Kneen’s bottle with barometric pressures and temperatures could not be found but it was considered this might be still in place at a neak on the same level about 150 yards further to the West.

RETURNING to the Sutakiki River, the party followed its headwaters and tributaries and later the Sutakama River headwaters. The party then moved towards Mt. Tatuva (Lion’s Head Moun tain) which rises impressively some thousands of feet on the eastern side of the Sutakama River. A 2,000 ft.-climb brought the party to Vulolo village where a magnificent mountain panorama opened up to the south, of a much more rugged nature than that to the west of Tatuve.

Following the ridge to Bung-ana and the saddle connecting it to Mt. Tatuve, at 3,250 feet, the party was prevented from proceeding further by the Headman and local natives. Tatuve is tambu and it is said that no man has ever climbed it.

Tn 1931 the botanist Kajewshi left Vulolo village secretly and entered the t Q mbu ground, climbing to the first shelf at about 4,000 ft. He did not reach the summit but was compelled to go back, and got into serious trouble on his return, the natives blaming his breaking of the tambu for the death of a child.

The present party accordingly left Mt.

Tatuve alone and returned to Gold Ridge, subsequently following the Sorvohio River Gorge down to the lower alluvial flats and across the plains to the Nalimbu River and the Government Farm at Hu.

Laboratory and office work following on the expedition in now in progress.

The London firm of Sandford, Fawcett &' Partners have been engaged to advise the Government of Fiji on matters con nected with the extension and improve ment of the Suva Water Supply. A representative of the firm, Mr, P. R.

Jeffcoate, arrived in the Colony in October to carry out a preliminary investigation Into the problems involved, Mr. and Mrs. Don Eisenhauer, of Goroka, Central New Guinea Highlands, are spending five months leave in Aus tralia.