SOLAR ECLIPSE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1930, Page 2

SOLAR ECLIPSE

EXPEDITION TO NIUAFOU ISLAND.

INTERVIEW WITH DR. BURNS

Dr Win. C. Burns, a member of the New Zealand Astronomical Society ol Tiiuaru, lias been appointed medical oiticer of the New Zealand expedition to Niuafou island, to observe the solar eclipse on October 23rd. interviewed by a representative of the 1 ‘Dress,” Dr Burns said that his primary interest in the expediton would be the* health of the members. He did not feel in a position to comment on the scientific aims of the party. Although the Government had announced in June last that it would be unable to finance the expediton it lias reconsidered the matter and had finally decided to grant assistance. The New Zealand Astronomical Society had gone oardfuly into the cost and found that the project could be undertaken satisfactorily without exceeding £SOO. The Government had decided to subsidise voluntary contribution towards this amount on a £ tor £ basis. The New Zealand Astronomical Society had. launched a successful appeal to ra:se .that amount. Timaru, in company with the larger towns, had done its share in this direction.

Dr, C, 12, Adams, Dominion Astronomer would be in charge of the expedition. Niuafou Island, which lies approximately halfway between Suva and Apia, was selected as the locale of the expediton as it is one of the land masses in the path of the total eclipse, it was more frequently known as ‘‘Tin Can Island,” owing to its rocky, precipitous coast, and from the practice of mail steamers sealing mail in tins and allowing it to float ashore. There was a white trader living on the island and Tongan natives.

Dr Burns said that it was possible that a hut would be placed at the disposal of the expedition, but if such were not the case tents would be used. As Niuafou Island lay in the narrow belt of totality which sloped downward from west to east, across the Pacific, it was most favourably situated. Meteorological records taken during October, 1928, and October, 1929, showed that there was a very fair chance of clear skies on the day of the eclipse. Negotiations between the New Zealand Astronomical Society and the British Empire Eclipse Committee had resulted in tho loan of some of the finest instruments in the world. One df the instruments which would be used was an historic one used at Sobral in 1919, when Einstein’s famous “star shift” was first put to the test. It would take the party three weeks to assemble the instruments for the'eclipse which would last 84 seconds. Tlie. absolute precision needed in securing the various records would be achieved by team work, the members of the party practising together till perfection was achieved, The .seconds would be so valuable that there must not be the remotest possibility of error. Dr Adams would allot the duties of each member of the party.

Dr. Barns expressed pleasure that the expedition had not been abandoned and said it had been felt strongly that having obtained the instruments from England there was a moral obligation on the part of the Dominion to carry the expedition through. New Zealand had been definitely charged with this duty, by the British Committee. In referring to the .seientic value of the expedition Dr Burns remarked that the discovery of helium gas, which is now used in balloons and dirigibles, had been due to a study of the sun during a solar eclipse.