Relics Traced of Continent in the Pacific

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 603, 4 March 1929, Page 2

Relics Traced of Continent in the Pacific

Clue to Ancient Race Found in 3 lid-Ocean CHAIN OF ISLANDS It is not generally realised that the Territory of Hawaii, which is usually known as comprising the six or seven large islands that lie closest to America, includes a rocky chain of submerged volcanic peaks that extend 1.200 miles westward of Honolulu into the Pacific, some of which appear above the surface of the ocean as small points of rock, uninhabited save by the myriad birds that nest there and by giant turtles that amble over occasional stretches of sandy beach. Part of Lost Continent An expedition was sent out in the beginning of 192 Sby the I_ nited States Coast and Geodetic Survey to chart these tiny islets, and to make surveys and soundings to serve as a guide to mariners. Fifty-five persons, with Thomas J. Maher as chief in command, left San Francisco last February for the Hawaiian islands on the steamer Guide, and returned late in midsummer. Commander Maher submitted a report to the Government of the principal results of their voyage. The work is not yet completed, and will take two or three years to conclude, but enough has been done to show the nature of these island possessions, says a writer in the “San Francisco Chronicle,” which constitute a fragmentary part of what might once have been a vast continent of volcanic origin, now almost completely lost beneath the Pacific. The expedition sailed north-west from Hawaii to Kurie Island, which lies just beyond the Midway group, 1.200 miles from Honolulu. A cable station is maintained in the Midway Islands, which are administered by the United States Navy Department. Between these two points, the steamer stopped at Nihoa Island, which measures one-quarter of a square mile in area; Necker Island, East Island, French Frigate Shoals, Le Pevouse Pinnacle, Gin Island and other remote spots on the map, so tiny as to be scarcely visible. Traces of Human Occupation Nevertheless, this island chain that stretches over such a great distance to the west of Hawaii is of interest to scientists, geologists and ethnologists as well as to navigators, for although uninhabited and uninhabitable save by a few forms of wild life, they show traces of that early and mysterious civilisation of the Pacific that has long been a puzzle. Most of the islands reveal traces of former human occupation. The remains of rockhewn temples and of rough stone implements testify to the fact that in the past human beings found their way to these remote islets and sojourned there for a time at least during certain seasons of the year, possibly for purposes of worship in accordance wuth the ceremonial rites of the far-flung Polynesian race. It is now regarded as certain that the legends of a common origin that are rife among the peoples of the North and South Pacific have a foundation in fact, and it is generally believed that more than 500 years ago the hardy people of Samoa sent forth KUROW LEAVES NEWCASTLE.— Cabled news has been received by the Union Company that the Kurow left Newcastle at 6 p.m. on Thursday for Napier, Miramar, Picton and Nelson. She iO due at Napier next Thursday. WAIPAHI FROM SUVA.—The Union Company’s Island steamer Waipahi is expected from Suva this afternoon, but she. liad not reported by wireless yesterday. The vessel has a cargo of fruit and will unload at Prince's Wharf.

OMANA FROM NEWCASTLE. —An expected arrival from Newcastle to-night or to-morrow morning is the Lamb steamer Omana. She will berth at Central Wharf to unload her coal and timber cargo to the agency of the Northern Company. RIMUTAKA REPORTS. —The local office of the New Zealand Shipping Coi » pany has been advised that the liner Rimutaka is expected to arrive at 'Well- i ington at 6 a.m. on Thursday from London and Southampton. The vessel is bringing passengers and mails for disembarkation at Wellington and cargo for j discharge at Port Chalmers, Timaru and ; New Plymouth. THE MATAROA. The Shaw. Savill and Albion liner Mataroa, which is due from London and Southampton at five o’clock to-morrow evening, will berth at Prince’s Wharf to land passengers and ! mail for New Zealand and general mer- j chandise for Auckland. The remainder i of the cargo is for Wellington. A. S. Pat- j erson and Company, Limited, are the local agents. CANADIAN HIGHLANDER DUE TODAY.—Four days earlier than was pected the Canadian Natioi*! .stean « Canadian Highlander, will arrive from Halifax this afternoon, according to her wireless report. The vessel will unload all her general cargo for New Zealand at Auckland. Afterwards she will go to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide to complete discharge. HERMINIUS ARRIVES. The Shaw, Savill and Albion steamer Herminius arrived in the stream at Auckland at 6 i o'clock this morning from Antwerp, and ' later berthed at the King’s Wharf to land \ her cargo of basic slag. The vessel left 1 Antwerp on January 16, and generally fine weather was experienced. Captain T. V. Roberts still retains command of the Herminius, and has the following officers with him: —Chief, Mr. a. W. Simms-Reeve; second, Mr. G. McCraith; third, Mr. S. A. McGregor; fourth, Mr. A. McSporron; wireless operator Mr. A. Bloxham; surgeon, Dr. T. H. Simmons; chief engineer, Mr. S. A. Widdringhain; second, Mr. J. Kidd; third, Air. O. Bertram; fourth, Mr. J. Lynch; fifth, Mr. P. Plunket; sixth, Mr. E. W. Howard; seventh, Air. E. Smith; refrigerating engineers, Alessrs. A. F. Roberts and A. Linnell; chief steward, Air. A. T. Brereton. CITY OF NORWICH WITH CARS.— An arrival in port at 8.10 o’clock this morning was the Ellerman-Bueknall cargo steamer City of Norwich which berthed at Prince's Wharf. She cleared New York on January 29 and proceeded to Newport News for bunkers, leaving there on January 31. She called at Norfolk, Virginia, for fuel oil and then proceeded straight to Auckland. via Panama. She brings a cargo of 2,u00 tons, including 1,300 cars, 400 of which are for discharge at Auckland. She also has 31,000 cases of kerosene, 7,500 of which will be unloaded here. For Portland, Victoria, she has 8,000 cases of benzine. The City of Norwich has furnaces which are capable of adjusting for either coal or oil burning, the reason being that to load sufficient coal for long voyages encroaches too much on cargo space. Oil fuel is therefore used for lengthy trips. There are only 17 Europeans on the vessel, the crew being made up of Lascars m the stokehold and engine room, and Malays on deck. Captain R. Jones is in command, and with him are the follow ing officers: Chief officer, Air. F. N Evanssecond officer, Air. A. G. Potter; third M r r v7-‘, A ' McEv °y; chief engineer, Air. \v . J. Alilne; second engineer. Air. R Anmson; third engineer, Air. C. H Tipping: fourth engineer, Mr. T. Shaw: fifth - engineer, Mr. E. Sheriff; wireless operaa?I’’ 1 ’’ A ,r - A T tV:, Sinclair ; chief steward, Air. fcL E. Holden. It is hoped to disi batch the City of Norwich on Thursday. She will sail for Wellington. Lyttelton, . Dunedin, Portland (Victoria! and Geej tong to unload the balance ..f her cargo, j She is under charter to the A. and A. Line, and the New Zealand Shipping J Company are the local agents.

migratory bands that travelled j, I their canoes from one island grout !to another, peopling them with thei \ own stock, so that to-day are fouw traces of similar race, language, i ligion and social customs scattered \ from Hawaii to New Zealand over * distance of more than 5.000 miles, ». i eluding Fiji, Tonga, Marshall, Cook and Solomon Islands, as well as th* ( Society Islands and the Marquesas. One proof that Samoa was the centre of this early dispersion 0 { the Polynesian race is adduced from the fact that the name Savii 0 ? Savaiki, is found in various forms through many of these islands,

Havaii. Hawaiki. Havaiki and Hawaii. The peoples of the Pacific have a com moil lengend pointing to Savaii, origin, ally Savaiki. the largest island of Um Samoan group, as their cradleland, aim according to the traditions of the Maoris of New Zealand, “the seed of our coming is from Hawaiki—the seed of our nourishing, the seed of man. kind/* lt is also a fact that the natives of Hawaii and of New Zealand, com. ing from the most remote regions of the North and South Pacific, can understand each other's language with, out difficulty. Other similarities in forms of worship, bodily physique, social customs and modes of living point to the fact that in early times there was a wide diffusion of the same race over areas that are separated by great stretches of water, showing that communication must have been made by means of frail canoes that put forth from one island chain to another, impelled by a spint of exploration that few other races have excelled. Nihoa Island, which "lies 135 miles from Niihau, the nearest inhabited land, lias an area of less than 150 acres, with no water except foul seep, ages in the west cove, the middle cove and about 300 feet above the east cove. Nevertheless, it was at one time inhabited, for numerous rock terraces were found, small in extent, but all carefully built by piling rock upon rock in regular order in different places on the hillsides. A small cluster of palms was found in a depression that sheltered the ruins of a heiau or | stone platform. Utensils and idols have been found there by various exploring expeditions, some of which are in the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. The race of people that occupied this island is thought to antedate the race of Hawaiians as known to white men. Necker Island, lying 150 miles west j of Nihoa Island, and 275 miles west- | ward of Niihau, was also at one time ; visited by natives, as shown by the remains of numerous temples in the form of spaces marked off by stones on which a number of stones are 1 placed upright in a regular formation, j Stone terraces were found built on the hillsides. It is said that each clan or tribe had its own shrine or temple, and in ancient times there must have been numerous pilgrims to this sacred spot. The island to-day is barren, with slight vegetation in spots and little or no soil. Thousands of sea birds nest there, and young turtles are found on the shores. This islet has an area of only 40 acres. On the peculiar formation known as French Frigate Island, so-called because the single rock that rises above the surface of the ocean resembles a ship in full sail, there is more vegetation. and sandy beaches exist that might serve as landing places for hydroplanes. Here birds have their I nesting grounds .undisturbed. Certain species nest underground, forming burrows that are pitfalls for the unwary walker. So unused are these . birds to the sight of man that they are quite tame, permitting visitors to com<* close to them without taking alarm, and fighting vigorously in defence of ; their young. The so-called “disappearing islands'* are in reality a misnomer, according to Lieutenant-Commander Maher, for iu reality they are but heaps of sand built up by the action of the wind and water on submerged coral reefs. They shift their place from time to time, now appearing above the surface of the water, then becoming submerged, to rise in a new’ place.