EVACUATION FROM VOLCANIC ISLAND

Chronicle (Levin), 30 December 1946, Page 3

EVACUATION FROM VOLCANIC ISLAND

-Press Associatinn

By Telearanh—

AUCKLAND, Dec. 29. The story of the mass evacualion of a Paciiic islaud, comxjarable iu modern times only with that of Bikini, was told wheu tlie Union Comxjauy's passenger molor sliix) Matua returnod to Auckland on Saturday aftcr carryiug out the special mission of moviug almost tlie entiro population of the Tongan islaud of Niuafoou to the capital of tlie groui>, Nukualofa. Driven from their islaud liome by an eruption and fears of a further uj>heaval, 1258 natives crowded aboard tlie 2100 ton evacuation sliip to seek a new aud more x'eaceful life on anotlier islaud. Only 13 days; notice was giveu tlie islanders of the Matua 's call. Because of sx>ace reatrictions iu the sliip the natives wero told tliey could not take ail their simple belongings witli tliem. Eacli carrying their closes-t x>ei'sonal possessious wrai)ped-in mattiug aud witli every family group clinging to their pi'iEed kerosene lamp, the natives were waiting on shore whon the Matua arrived from Nukualofa ou tlie mornlng of December 21, to begiu ihe evacuation. The trini white motor sliip droiJped anclior in 75 l'atlioms of water about half a nule from the village of Futu ou the north-west sido of Niuafoou, the sceue of the sevorc 1029 eruption. The cmbarkation sliore was covered witli black lava which extended iuto tlie sea and ou the oceau bcd. This was the griui sctting T'or the pathetic farewell of the x>«ople I-0 an islaud which for geuerations liad becn their liome. Although the Nukualoi'ans were obviously X'^awed to leaye tlie spot stiil sliaking to eartli tremors, tlie natives of Niuafoou could not liide their sadness nor could some cover their fcar of tlie Alatua, the lirst shix> of auy kind whicli tliey liad boarded.