NOUMEA – Voters in New Caledonia turned out in large numbers Sunday to decide whether the archipelago in the South Pacific should become independent from France and break ties that were first established in the mid-19th century.Sunday's independence referendum is part of a three-decade decolonization effort aimed at settling tensions on the archipelago between native Kanaks seeking independence and residents willing to remain in France.More than 180,000 voters were invited to answer the question: “Do you want New Caledonia to gain full sovereignty and become independent?”“Today is not a day like any other.