casualties for the government forces and twenty eight in all. It was really a very harrowing affair. Mr. Bell was to have finished twenty years of distin- guished service at the end of the year and was the most beloved and respected of all the government officials. The cruiser Adelaide was rushed to the scene and is still there. The Ranandie was also despached, and a company of volunteer whites from Tulagi hurried over to try to capture the natives responsible. This is the seventh murder we have heard about since we have been on the Solomons. Conditions in regard to the relations of the government and the natives are not good, and everyone is speculating as to what the future will hold. The situation on Malaita has not yet cleared and no one knows how well the punitive expeditions are faring. Malaita is the mystery land of the Solomons. It should have its legend preserved in literature. The crew of the France had their usual drinking bout with the crew of the Mataram and afterwards had some trouble amongst themselves on board. The spec- tacle of Hicks weeping, of Teora, fat Teora, rolling on deck in combat with the frantic body of George, the mate, of argument here, and grievance there, is an old story- the all-embracing fate of crews on a holiday. Thursday, November 3rd to Sunday, November 6th. (Island of Bagga). With a fair wind off the port