TIN CAN ISLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 1 February 1928, Page 4

TIN CAN ISLAND

IX THE PATH OF COAIING SOLAR ECLIPSE. 1

WELLINGTON, Jan. 27

Situated about 1500 miles lrom Auckland and midway between the three groups of Samoa Tonga and Fiji, the island of Niualou or “Tin-Can Island,” as the mail-boat passengers know it. is at present looming large on the world’s astronomical map, because it will l.e the only land area, (with the exception of Nurakita, Ellice Group) in the path of totality of the solar eclipse of October 22nd. 1930. A report on the suitability of the island u.s an observation station for that occasion, made at the instignation of the Astronomer Royal (Sir Frank Dyson )has just been received by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research from Dr A. Thomson, Director of the Apia Observatory, Samoa.

Niuafou is shaped like a gigantic signet ring, three miles in diameter, and (ine-third of a mile thick, with the thick end towards tho north. The island, which is purely volcanic, and has been thrown up from ocean depths belongs to tho principality of Tonga, the sole .self-governing State in the South Pacific. C\'turn unicatinu from the outside world is di(lieult and infrequent. The monthly inter-island steamer drops the mail overboard in a soldered tin can in deep water a few hundred yards ell' shore. Two natives swim out kind push or drag .the mail box ashore, thus the local name of Niuafou —“Tin-Can-Idand.” The island lies about the middle of the .south-east trade wind belt, and over the ocean in the vicinity of the island, the winds are north or south-east for (to per cent, of Lhe time during the Soptemher-Nov-einber pencil. It has no beach, and is not prelected as are some other South Sea islands by a fringing coral reef. Rollers from the South Pacific dash against precipitous cliffs, from the top of which the land slopes gently upwards to heights of 300 feet Lo 000 feet. These slopes are thickly covered with na.lin trees and dense tropical verdure. On the other side the bills slope down to an island lake about i'.'o miles and a half in diameter, and 95 feet a.hove sea level. The crater of t!ie volcano, which erupted in 188 G. forms a large peninsula on the w< stern side of the lake, and near the centre Here islets may he seen.

Almost the whole population of 1100 belong to tile Polynesian race. The natives are Tongaii, and speak tlmt language, although a few converse in English.

Tho i'land has fieen. flic scene of many volcanic disturbances, the last, period of activity being in 1912 when lava flowed info tlie sea near the village of J.'itfcu on the western side ct the island. The largest cocoanuts grown in the. Pacific are produced on Niuafou. which is also tho home of the mohiii or megapode. a bird rather smaller than the pigeon, which lays an egg disproportionately large compared with its own size.

According to .statements made in Dr Tlvuiis m’s report by Mr Westland, As-sistant-Director of the Observatory, and .Mr C. S. Ramsay, a trader of Xiuafou, difficulty should not he experienced in landing scientific equipment- for the proposed observation at the island. It is suggested that, tho Unon Company might he requested to stop its monthly steamer for a few hours to- disembark a responsible party. If circumstances prevented tho request being met. an alternative would he to charter a small'boat at Suva. Fiji or Apia.