“Tin Can Mail”

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 67, 20 March 1936, Page 10

“Tin Can Mail”

EOOK TO BE WRITTEN SUVA, March 9. Mr C. S. Ramsay, tho hero of what is known throughout tho world as the “tin can mail,” on tho little volcanic island of Niuafoou, is busy waiting a book. He has been joined in tho w'ork by his friend, Mr Charlie Plumb, New York cartoonist. Their partnership is in itself a romance. They met when a tourist liner called at Niuafoou and Ramsay delivered some 30,000 stamped envelopes bearing the emblems of ‘ ‘ tin can island.” They became warm friends and when Ramsay’s employers shut down their business in Niaufoou Ramsay migrated to run an avocado pear ranch in tiunny California. He left it to take up a position at Pago Pago for Burns Philp. Here he was lately joined uy Plum and for a month they got busy sketching the plan of a book on Niuafoou, full of stirring events. Then Ramsay had to come to Suva for an operation and Plumb came with him. Tho operation was successful and tho two men, full of bright thoughts and plans, set, out yesterday to complete their ropianco of the most spectacular island in the South Seas.

For years Ramsay, who was a trader on Niuafoou, often swam out with the mail placed in a sealed tin can to the passing steamer, but when one of his native helpers was taken by a shark the mail was carried out in a canoe. This is done at great risk as thero is no safe landing place on the island.