PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 29: 
Fiji is an oldermass associated on the east with Pleis- 
tocene volcanics and with young coral reefs elevated 
differentially, and bounded to the north-east by ocean 
depths. 
The Solomons, together with New Britain and New 
Ireland, the New Hebrides, and South-eastern New Guinea, 
form a complete and similar group, but earth wave inter- 
ferences have formed ocean trenches within this group so 
that their formation is not quite so simple, although it is 
similar to those described in the previous paragraphs. 
Within them, however, may be observed the unconform- 
able capping of the terraced reefs of Pleistocene age, on 
an eroded surface of bedded “‘soapstone.’’? This again 
appears to overlie volcanic material unconformably. This. 
is well shown in Guppy’s sections’ where the raised lime- 
stones of Pleistocene Age show the influence of tilting, or 
of undulatory movement, as well as of direct elevation. 
(4) The relative stability of the individual subparallel 
zones or belts, comprising the groups.—Two groups. 
are selected as types for this purpose, namely, Fiji, and. 
Tonga. 
The main islands of Fiji, namely, Viti Levu and Vanua 
Levu, possess folded limestones and “‘soapstone”’ beds, 
of Kainozoic Age, but they possess little or no trace of 
raised corals of Pleistocene Age. ‘These islands are sur- 
rounded by large barrier reefs. 
From this it is inferred that these land masses have been 
fairly stable during later Pleistocene time, with the impli- 
cation thus of marine erosion which has been long continued. 
To the immediate east of this incurved belt lie a few raised 
reefs of Pleistocene Age in the form of terraces. The island 
members of the volcanic zone to the east, which have 


* Guppy, The Solomon Islands. Swann, Sonnenshein, 1887, pl. 2. 
