Unusual Places - Niuafo'ou

Niuafo'ou (Tin Can Island or Good Hope Island)



Geography: Niuafo'ou (meaning coconut) is the northernmost island in the kingdom of Tonga. It is remote, to say the least. The island is located between Fiji and Samoa in the far Southern Pacific. The surface area of Tin Can Island is slightly less than 6 square miles. The island supports an indigenous population of about 800. Tin Can Island was born of a still active volcano which has erupted as recently as 1946. The ring encloses two lakes and supports a significant forest on the inner walls of the crater lake. There is no good harbor or anchorage to provide easy access to the island for larger ships.



History: Tin Can Island was known to European explorers as early as 1616. They used the island as a remote source for fresh water and coconuts. Although they tried to trade with the few natives on the island, they were not well received. Over the centuries the island became more popular as a tourist destination, but until recently there was no good way to get there. The island now boasts of a small, but dangerous, airport and satellite communications including television and Internet service.



Philatelic Significance: An early trader, Walter George Quensell, acted as the postmaster for the island. He stamped outgoing mail with colorful marks that have become valuable collector's items. The Tongan government took over Tin Can Island's postal service in 1983 and has been producing Niuafo'ou stamps since.

As stated above, the very steep slopes and deep water around the island do not permit anchoring. There is only one landing area and it is remote from the villages, post office, telecommunications station and airport. Niuafo'ou was named Tin Can Island by Europeans in appreciation for the way in which mail was delivered and picked up. Mail was sealed in a large "biscuit tin" and thrown overboard from passing ships. Strong swimmers would retrieve the packages and swim them ashore. Outgoing mail was handled in a similar manner. This practice continued until a swimmer was attacked and killed by a shark. After that, smaller tins were used and were transported by canoe.

Great lesson Greg

Keep em coming

Dianne

That was interesting about the tin cans. I never knew that.

Here is a little more.

Because Niuafo'ou Island has no harbour, during the hurricane season sailing vessels did not come to load copra or bring passengers, cargo, and mail. However, the SS. Tofua passed Niuafo'ou en route between Samoa and Fiji, and during the 1920s a store keeper, Charles Ramsay, used the Niuafo'ou fishing technique of fakalukuluku, swimming with a floating pole, to convey cans of mail to and from the steamer. Soldered, forty-pound biscuit tins were used.

By the 1960s, the Niufo'ou viceroy, Hon. Noble Fusitu'a, unofficial postmaster, was sending his outrigger canoe, painted green and pink with an outboard motor, to deliver and collect the tine can mail fromt he Matson passenger liners, Monterey and Mariposa. Tongan stamps taken aboard at Suva were sold to passengers between Suva and Niuafo'ou, posted ashore in the red tin can, and returned to the next liner bearing the authentic Tin Can Island postmark.

I think I'd like to visit there, but no swimming with the

This is some of the artwork on the carton of the Limu Plus that I drink.
Limu Moui, from Tonga, is the main ingredient. The other sides of the
carton give similar treatment to the countries from which the other
ingredients are derived, namely Russia, Japan, and Mexico.

Very interesting sidelight Larry. Is that a health drink?

Greg, yes it is.

Just discovered in an old album . note the other story of a one legged burglar.!

Great clippings, thanks for sharing Robster . Any idea what the date of the clippings is?

The clippings did not have any dates but I will take a guess at 1938/9. Two more- one "registered mail".