ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 100, 21 January 1908, Page 9

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

THE FLINT ISLAND EXPEDITION, . , A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE, (nr TBI.ECItArH—SI'ECIAI, CORMSrO.S'DKNT.? Auckland, January 20. : : Both Auckland dailies dovoto -mucli space to accounts of-the recent eclipse'Of tho sun' from membors of tho Flint Island-expedition. , "It was indeed amagnificent spectacle," said Mr. Mcrfield, F.R.A.S., in speaking of tho eclipso to an interviewer. "It was well worth going 2000 miles to see, more parti-cularly-for those who had never previously seen a total eclipso. • It. was ail awe-inspiring sight; Chat could probably only be surpassed by a tremendous volcanic eruption."

"The astonishment of the natives on the island on our arrival," said Mr. Merfield, " was very marked. They were surprised that people should travel so far to see such an uninteresting thing, as it appeared to .thorn, as the moon passing over the\sun. The fact that wo .know the exact time, to pxpecfc the phenomenon was also a marvel to thorn. • When tho celipso 1 occurred they wero thrown into a state of the greatest excitement. Tho men howled, the women cried, and tho dogs barked, whilst the birds, thinking that night had overtaken tliom, wont to roost. Needless.to say,, it was the piost marvellous phenomenon that these, simple islanders, '111 their circumscribed sphere of life, had evor witnessed. It was not quite dark, but sufficiently so to'-malic both Venus and Mercury plainly visible. " Wo were only six miles from tho actual centre of totality, tho exact centro being at .sea. - The eclipse Was partly . visible at Tahiti, Rarotonga, and other islands, about three-quarters of. the' sun's surfaco Lein<; obscured as viewed' from Tahiti.- ' • ," vSomo idea of th'e completeness of the. 'arrangements : made by the . American party for their brief visit to tho island may be obtained from'the fact that thoy took'nearly 40 tons of timber and material to the island. As this all had to be landed by means o! surf boats, it may be understood that the undertakings was no light task. Carpenters were taken to -I,he island-for the purpose of erecting, huts for the temporary habitation' of tlio members of the expedition. These were composed of wooden frameworlc.v covered with plaited banana leaves. The timber was left on the island as a gift to Messrs. Lever Bros.' station, which will thus, it ir calculated, profit by the expedition to extent of about £101). Tho actual cost was about £45,' but. „ the value oil tho island would bo over twice that sum.", • . „ ; Mr. Brooks, in speaking of tho eclipse, saidThe eclipse was a particularly bright one, and a newspaper could be read during tho whole of the time without any difficulty 'whatever. We expected a dark eclipse,'being in-the tropics, and. made preparations accordingly, but it was more like half twilight, and our red lamps., though all; in readiness, were not. required. The showerwhich cccurrcd during ' tho first minute ondecl as suddenly as it began,- and'- the water appeared to como down in one solid wall.' On tho steamer, standing a little way; out to sea,' there was lio rain,land even at' our auxiliary camp, half, a mile away, there was not a "drop. The rain zone, as seen from tho Taviuni, was very plainly marked. " Very extensive/ preparations were made by the' American party, and they went to a great deal of trouble to achieve their results.' For, their largest instrument they erected a, doublo scaffolding 40ft. high that is, ' ono "scaffolding, in3idc to support the camera alone, and one outside for. tho operator to work, thus avoiding any vibration or possibility. of accident. Air their, arrangements were very complete indeed. . All:the members of the party speak very highly of ■tho''treatment'moted out to thenirb;?. Captain; Lacoy and the officers of the Tin iuni during tho trip." ... ~...