OBSERVING SOLAR ECLIPSE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 115, 1 June 1937, Page 7

OBSERVING SOLAR ECLIPSE

-PresB Aeen.-

Scientists at Canton Island L0IN-CL0THS W0RN

( By Telegraph—

-Copyristie.1

SYDNEY, May 31. The New Zealand party of scientists who travelled to the Phoenix Islands to arrange to observe the solar eclipse cf June 8 wirelesses that "Canton Island ds a paradise for the student of natural history. We, have already obtained many specimens for the Auckland and Wellington museums. "The Americans are adju'sting their instruments, which are pointing to the sky like howitzers. "On Saturday night we made observations, photographing the moon and the stars. On Sunday the conerete bases for the Coelostat 78-inch eamera were, commenced alongside the Americqn instruments. The temperature was 84 in the shade. Amry- lens are used by both parties. "The Americanis are acelimatised, and their only clothing are loin cloths. Tinted glasses are essential, owing to sun glare. The land is infested with crabs, whieh enter the tents and beds when we are asleep. Sharks are abundant. Both parties are settllng down preparing for the eclipse." A radio message from the solar expe-, dition says: "All is well. We are becoming acelimatised. The heat and living conditions are not as severe as anticipated. We are using wreck timber* for firewood in an improvised steel stave made from a inast carried half a mile, apparently by a hurricane. "This afternoon for (an hour and ahalf the. Americans broadcast a dedica-. tion service, a description of life in Cantca and personal meesages from members of both parties. Sailors from both warshins gathered before the Memorial Day monument, a concrete pyramid four feet high. A service by Father McNally and a prayer by Captain Hellweg were dedieated to all men of all ships and all men of good faith who have gone "before us and made our progress possible.' "