42 RESEARCH COMMITTEES. 
EARTHQUAKES. 
New Britain, Lat. 5° S., Long. 151° 40/ E. 
Extract from the Age, Wednesday, 10th October, 1900- 
‘“ News to hand from New Britain states that, on Tuesday, 
11th September, the island was visited by an earthquake, which 
for severity and persistent repetition has never been equalled 
in the islands. The deadly. oppressiveness of the morning 
caused a panic amongst the natives, who rushed to the sea 
for safety, many standing waist-deep on the reefs. <A 
terrific shock happened at 7°30. The earth felt as uf it 
had been suddenly lifted up several feet and dumped down 
again with a thud. Houses creaked and groaned, and the 
residents fled into the open. People and trees were swayed 
and whirled about, as if caught in an immense whirlpool. 
The disturbance lasted about three minutes. Several minor 
vibrations followed. During the upheaval the sea receded 
fully 50 feet from the shore, and after an interval of ten 
minutes rushed in again. So great was the volume of 
water which receded that the German mail steamer Stedlin, 
which was lying at anchor at Reperstshoh, distinctly touched 
bottom several times, to the great consternation of those 
on board.” 
EARTHQUAKES IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. 
Solomon Islands, Lat. 6° 8., Long. 156° E. 
Extract from the Argus, 9th October, 1900 (Tuesday). 
BRISBANE, Monday. 
“ Captain P. Tornaros, coast pilot on the Norddeutscher 
Lloyd steamer Munchen, which arrived yesterday, gave 
some interesting information of successive earthquakes 
at Herbertshohe, where he waited for 14 days for 
the arrival of the Munchen. On Sunday, 16th inst., 
the Munchen steamed down to Malapia, a fine little 
harbour, nine miles distant, where Messrs. Hern 
sheim & Co. have a station. The island is purely 
volcanic. One of the craters was active, and the 
Leach of the island was almost wholly covered with lava. 
On the 17th they went to Ralum, midway between Matapi 
and Herbertshohe. On the 18th the morning was very 
close. The lead had been put over the stern, and the five 
fathoms mark was just awash, the water being beautifully 
clear. While the engineer, chief officer, captain, and pas- 
sengers were discussing the peculiarity of the atmosphere, a 
severe shock of earthquake was felt, lasting for fully a 
minute. Everyone thought the ship was aground. Look- 
