TONGA

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1929, Page 3

TONGA

AND ITS VANISHING ISLANDS. The news, that lava wfis recently observed to flow froni eighty craters in the island of Niuafoo, of the Tuigfi group, recalls the fact that the small island lies in a region that is remarkable for its volcanic ' activity. The writer visited Niuafop on two occasions some years. ago, during a trip to the Tonga Islands. It is a wonderful little island, and said to, produce the best coconuts in the Pacific. Qopmunic tion is rather difficult, as there is no harbour, nor even a wharf suitable for steamers, which generally lie off about two hundred yards from the shore. A native swam-ashore with a kerosene tin containing the' local mail.. It was not a largo ope, for there are seldpm more than half a dozen whites in Niuafoo, which is an ideal place in which to spend a Robinson Crusoe existence, The young white resident who came on board on business simply swam out from the sliorq, transacted his business clad in a bathing suit, then dived off the steamer and returned home in the same primitive fashion.

There has been no volcanic activity at Niuafoo since 1866, when the Falcon Reef, normally, awash at high water, discharged sufficient pumice stone and scoria to new, island fifty feet high; From 1845 to 1857 there were some violent volcanic eruptions, and much damage, was done. At'that time a new island,.arose from the sea, and was at once named “ Wesley,” but soon disappeared again. Whether this was identical,with Falcon Island (which has so- and disappeared) is uncertain. • In- this connection ,it is interesting to note that, according to -Maori tradition, when their ancestors undertook -their first voyage' frop distant Hayvqiki to New Zealand, they stopped on the-pray at an island which has since disappeared, but which was apparently in ! this neighbourhood. Tips reminds us of,the case of a vanishing island jn Eprppean paters which once nearly' led to international complications* A British ship captain nearly a hundred years ago, while pasing close to the coast of Sicily-, observed an island which was not shown on the chart and from which smoke was seen to be issuing. Sending a boat ashore, he found that it was composed of a heap of lava or scoria, which had been ejected by a submarine volcano. He planted a British flag on the island, took possession of it in the name of nis Government, and named it July Island, from % date of its jfliscqvery Soon afterwards a Neapolitan ship pass ed the same spot. “Her captain rediscovered the- island, hauled down the British flag and planted in its place that of Naples (which was then an in dependent State), claiming that it laywithin 'vNeapolitan territory. But before juridical claim could be settled the island had disappeared under the waves and it has not reappeared since. Tlje incident is humorously referred to by Alexander Dumas, -junior, in one of his works.

Among other volcanoes in the Tongan group is t}ie island of Tofua, which is simply a yolcanic cone rising out o f bhe sea, evidently the result of submarine action. It was within sight of this island that the mutiny of the Bounty occurred (on the way back from Tahiti); here Captain BJigh and lijs folowers were cast adrift in an open boat. Another active volcano is Late west of Vavau, which emitted flames in 1854, and it northern neighbour Fonualai (or Amargura) was bljown away by a terrific explosion in 1846.