Volcanic Belt Is Uneasy

THERE seems to be a great deal of seismic activity in the south west Pacific —generally along or near the line of volcanoes, which runs along the north coast of New Guinea, and on through the northern Solomons towards the New Hebrides, Tonga and New Zealand.

After the outbreak on Long Island, there was a very sharp earthquake in Lae in early July, which did a good deal of damage to glassware shaken from shelves.

There was a milder shake re ported about the same time from Kerema, in the Gulf district, west of Port Moresby. Such manifesta tions are rare on the south side of New Guinea.

Late in July, it was reported that the volcanic activity had extended to Mount Baiba, in the middle of the big island of Bougainville (northern Solomons). It is always active, but this was a very lively demonstra tion.

U Mr. J. S. Thomson has been posted to the Fijian Office to act as Deputy Secretary for Fijian Affairs.

H An Indian nurse, Miss R. C. L.

Columbus, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Columbus, of Suva, has passed her preliminary nursing ex amination at Wellington, New Zea land, after 18 months of the four year course.

IT Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Kean and daughter arrived in Suva from Mel bourne in July. Mr. Kean will re place Mr. J. C. Mahon as Shell rep resentative, South-west Pacific, when Mr. Mahon returns to Aus tralia on transfer in August,