“TIN CAN MAIL” ISLAND
VOLCANIC DISTURBANCES Reed. 6 p.m. Sydney. Nov. 21. Several volcanoes on Niaufoou Islansd. the home of the “tin can mail,” have been in violent eruption. Thousands of New Zealand and Australian philatelists have sent envelopes to this island in the Tongan group lor stamping and return. It was occasionally visited before the war by the liner Monowai. Letters were t.irown overboard in a sealed kerosene tin and picked up by a canoe. Months later they returned with the “tin can'’ stamps affixed. The British Consul in the Tongans, Mr. C. W. Johnston, has-reported that while there was no loss of lii'e during the eruption, damage to the food crops was heavy. One main eruption occurred with three subsidiary ones. Masses of molten la\a were thrown 200 feet in the air.
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Bibliographic details
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 277, 23 November 1943, Page 4
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134“TIN CAN MAIL” ISLAND Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 277, 23 November 1943, Page 4
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