SOLAR ECLIPSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 113, 14 May 1936, Page 5

SOLAR ECLIPSE.

NEXT YEAR'S EVENT. NEW ZEALAND PLANS. EXPEDITION TO "TIN CAN." Plans for a party of New Zealanders to visit the Phoenix Islands,' in the Pacific, next year, to see the total solar eclipse wliieh will happen on June 8, 1937, are at present being made. Mr. C. B. Michie, of Kaitaia, the organiser of the expedition, was a member of the New Zealand Solar Eclipse Expedition to Niuafobii ("Tin Can"i Island in. 1930. The aomplete personnel of the party of six has not yet been completed, but it is expected that several of the astronomers who tooK part in the previous expedition will accompany Mr. Michie on his forthcoming venture. The previous expedition was financed by public subscription and aided by a large donation from the NewZealand Astronomical Society, but the one planned for next year will be under the control of the Department of Scientific Industrial Research. Mr. Michie has been appointed the leader. The New Zealand party for next year's expediton. together with its equipment, will be taken to "Tin Can" Island by a unit of the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy. The warship will cruise in the vicinity, and after the eclipse has been completed, will pick the party up. Preliminary arrangements have been discussed during the past week by Mr. Michie, with Commodore the Hon. E. R. Drummond and his officers. The Phoenix Group, from which the eclipse will he best seen, is a British possession, consisting of uninhabited coral reefs.

The chief difficulty of the party will be the lack of drinking water. Arrangements have been made, however, for 11.M.5. Leith to take to "Tin Can" Island this month two self-contained 100-<rallon tanks and rain catchment units which have been made by Mr. Michie. These should serve as a water supply for the party. Part of the equipment to be carried by the party will be a 19ft eoronagraph and coelostat which were used with success at Niuafoou in 1930. They have been made available by the Astronomer Royal on the recommendation of the Joint Permanent Eclipse Committee. Mr. Michie has already had experience with this instrument in several annular eclipses visible in New Zealand as well as "Tin Can." He hopes to use it again on the occasion of the annular eclipse visible in the Auckland Province next December.