It Was The Planters—
p. 13 · Read in the full issue
Not A Volcano!
RUMOURS of a new volcano in Bou gainville are reported: but indica tions are that conditions in the area referred to are much the same as they have been for years (writes Mr. F.
P. Archer, of Jame Plantation, Buka Pas sage, New Guinea).
But I think that Mounts Bagana and Balbe (in the interior of Bougainville) have been showing more activity than I have seen for years. Last year, while standing on my jetty at Jame on a clear day, I saw the smoke of Bagana going up in a great column, and mushroom-like effect of smoke (like the pictures of the atom-bomb explosions) over Balbe—the first time I had seen anything like this in 24 years’ residence.
Since then I have carefully measured the distance from Balbe to Jame. Praise be, it is over 50 miles!
There may be a new volcano growling in the south; but I think it’s more likely to have been the planters, who all are seething over the very unsatisfactory shipping service we are getting.
When Mrs. J. K. Murray, wife of the Administrator of New r Guinea, was in Brisbane In May she was the guest of Mrs. Doris Booth, of Bulolo, at her Bris bane flat.