at Work in Queensland

New Hurricane "Fixers" at Work in Queensland

IN time for the current hurricane season, Queensland has just com pleted the most modern hurri cane locating and tracking system in the Southern Hemisphere.

First evidence of a hurricane will, as in the past, be obtained by barometer and wind readings from Queensland coastal and Island stations. Then as it moves nearer, atmospheric direction-finding stations at Brisbane, Townsville and Charleville will obtain a fairly accurate “fix” of the hurricane centre. They operate on the prin ciple that a considerable amount of lightning and consequently “static” —is associated with hurri canes.

The direction finders establish the direction from which these intense atmospherics are coming. A re liable range of 750 miles is ex pected. Then, when the centre is within 150 miles of the coast, long range radar stations will obtain a very accurate picture of the direc tion of movement.

Nohe of these new devices will divert the hurricanes from their un predictable courses, but the equip ment will provide an earlier and more accurate warning, saving un necessary hurricane preparations and localising the danger area.

II Miss Sue Lucy, of Killara, Sydney, returned home on January 14 from a five weeks holiday on Mr. Jim Leahy’s plantation at Goroka, New Guinea. She flew home with a school friend, Beverley Bunting, also of Sydney.

II Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Ryan—he is BP manager in Port Moresby, and she was formerly Miss Gwen Hides, of Papua—have been spend

ing their leave with their childre at Balgowlah, Sydney. They retui to PM in March, If Mr. Per Fogstad, of Sandefior Norway, who is a director of tl Pacific Islands Transport Lir ( Thorsisle ) was a visitor to Sydm during January. An extension i the Pacific of the shipping interes he represents is planned.