THE ISLAND HURRICANE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 40, 16 February 1905, Page 3

THE ISLAND HURRICANE.

SEVERE GALE AT MANGAIA. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. NATIVES. FLEE TO THE HILLS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) RARATONGA, February 8.

The island of Mangaia was visited on the 15th January by a severe gale, almost of hurricane force, the heaviest experienced for many years past. A vast amount of damage was done in the various settlements.

The wind commenced to blow on the 14th January, and increased in force up to three a.m. on the 15th, when it reached its ntaximum.

During the height of the storm the native •■ ' -ok refuge in the hills. The utations and tree products of the island were much damaged, the bananas and eoeoanuts being blown down in all directions, while the orange, lime, and coffee trees were also greatly injured. The damage done to the settlements was very great, especially among the native habitations, more than half being blown down.

The London Missionary Society's Church at Oneroa, the principal settlement in the island, sustained great injury-, every sheet of iron being blown off the roof, and a lot of the woodwork stripped away, while several of the large glass windows were smashed. The churches at Tamaiua and Ivirua received similar damage, and in consequence religious services have now to be conducted in the school houses, which were damaged to a lesser extent. The Courthouses at Ivirua and Tamarua were levelled to the ground, and the Courthouse at Oneroa was unroofed.

Several of the European houses were damaged, but, fortunately, the new Government building sustained no injury except a few broken panes of glass. During the gale the sea attained a great height. It reached up the fliffg to the MaTket-place, a building of limestone walls, and completely washed it away, driving heavy piles right to the back boundary of the Goverrrmeat reserve. The sea also washed away some outhouses belonging to Mr. Geo. Brown and the store of Mr. P. L. Brennan was levelled to the ground. Fortunately no accident occurred to any person, although great risk was run through falling trees, cocoanuts, etc.

The roads on the island were completely blocked by fallen timber, and by rocks and 'shingle thrown up by the sea; bnt as soon as the storm abated Major Large, the Resident Agent,' set the natives to work, and had the roads cleared, and they are now available again for traffic.

Major Large reports that there is abundance of taro, sweet potatoes, and c';her food not affected by the gale, consequently there ie 110 likelihood of the natives being short of food. He further reports that it will take some months for the island to recover from the visitation, and that there will not be much cargo for the steamer during this year so as to induce her to call as often as was anticipated.