Volcano Viewing is

Included in the Fare Close-Up of Mt. Langlia

VULCANOLOGIST M. Reynolds make a ground inspection of Mt. Langlia, at the Cape Gloucester end of New Britain, to wards the end of May.

On May 24 he had made an aerial inspection of the volcano. So did a dozen other people—passengers in the same plane as Mr. Reynolds.

This side excursion was included for free, in the usual Rabaul-Lae Qantas service (running two days’ late that week, due to general hold up of Qantas planes extending from Japan to Honiara).

Some of Mr. Reynolds’ fellow travellers did not appreciate the excursion much; but most of them took it in the manner in which it was meant, and were interested in a close-up view of a smoking volcano. However, that kind of vehicle—with tin seats, built like a string of large soap dishes along the sides of the plane—is not designed for close banking and turning in comfort.

For a while I solved the difficulty by kneeling on the floor, grasping the edge of the seat and viewing the volcano from that position through the window. But banking planes appear to do queer things t(D one’s equilibrium, and, after a bit, I got back into my tin soap dish as best I could, and peered out from under my left elbow. The plane appeared to be doing a vertical climb over a tremendous mountain.

“My God,” thought I, “He’ll never do it!”— and I could already see the headlines: PLANE PLUNGES

Into New Britain Volcano.

But a second look showed that the plane was simply flying at some odd angle, and that what seemed a towering mountain was relatively flat coastal country. Presently, we straightened up and headed away over the sea to Finschhaven.

The vulcanologist was up front with the pilots, taking photographs.

Because, normally, the run between Rabaul and Lae provides no ex citement, my camera was locked up in my suitcase. But from what I could see from the plane, Langlia is not unlike Matupi, near Rabaul. It has the same broken-sided look,

with wreaths of smoke coming from its cone. The thick rain forest within half a mile to a mile from the mountain was covered with fresh ash.

Most residents of New Britain regard it as a good thing when these isolated volcanoes let off steam; rightly or wrongly, they be lieve it is a safety-valve. Langlia started to erupt on May 18; on the 24th, when we viewed it, it was quiet; but later began again to erupt. Langlia is sometimes spelt “Langla,”’ I checked my spelling with the vulcanologist. It is his volcano; he should know.

Australian newspapers reported that the volcano threatened 250

natives and that the Administration was considering moving them. I could not see any villages that were threatened. I asked the vulcanologist, and he agreed. There was no sign of any lateral blast, as at Laming

ton.

J.T.