PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION E. 565 
horizontal tremors ; 28th October, about noon, a slight single 
shock ; 9th November, at 6.10 p.m., double shock, the second 
sharper and of ionger duration than the first ; this was succeeded 
by another shock, slight, at ll p.m. 28th December, at midnight, 
a single sharp shock ; 29th December, 7.45 p.m., shock slight, 
single. These successive visitations are seldom so frequent. An 
earthquake of more than usual severity in Samoa was experienced 
on 22nd February, ’61, at a quarter to3 p.m. The shock was 
double, the second tremor of great force. The following day two 
shocks were felt: at 2.20 a.m., sharp, severe ; 4.15 p.m., slighter. 
A peculiarity regarding the recurrence of earthquakes in 
Samoa is worthy of notice, for it is difficult to assign a reason for 
the phenomenon; the visitation of an earthquake is often succeeded 
by another in about a fortnight. The shocks are simultaneous 
on the islands of Upolu, Savaii, Manono, Aporima, and Tutuila, 
though these islands lie at some distance from each other. Last 
September severe seismic tremors were felt in Samoa, causing 
great alarm. They lasted for three minutes. Buildings trembled 
violently, and trees swayed as ina gale. Ships at anchor in the 
harbour of Apia rocked to an alarming extent, and dragged their 
anchors, although the sea seemed perfectly calm. Since then, news 
from Apia state that the tremors have been so frequent and 
forcible that some of the residents were apprehensive that extinct 
volcanoes were again about to become eruptive. 
Earthquakes are experienced on New Oaledonia and in the 
neighbouring Loyalty Group. They are neither so frequent nor 
so severe as in Samoa. New Caledonia is of volcanic origin, and 
possesses a chain of volcanic mountains and hummocks on the 
coast. There is no active volcano now, and very slight trace of 
any having existed for some ages past, though the contour of the 
country presents unmistakable evidences of volcanic operations 
in the distant past. Mount D’Or, at the back of Nouméa, shows 
many volcanic features. The Isle of Pines is situated at the 
south of New Caledonia, and is of similar conformation. 
The Loyalty Group is composed of coral Islands, raised upon a 
volcanic base, connected with New Caledonia and the Isle of 
Pines. They are situated on the south-eastern side of New 
Caledonia, running parallel with it, from 35 to 60 miles from that 
island. Earthquakes are simultaneously felt on the Loyalty 
Group, New Caledonia, and the Isle of Pines, denoting a common 
base. New Caledonia is surrounded by an extensive lagoon, 
enclosed by a coral reef from half a mile to two or three miles 
from the mainland, and extending still further at the north end. 
Here and there islets are formed on the reef and plentifully 
interspersed within the lagoon. Uvéa (or Jai), the most northern 
of the Loyalty Group, is a lagoon island (or rather islands), the 
inhabited part of which is composed of three islands, running 
from north to south, and separated from each other by narrow 
