HEAVY DAMAGE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18659, 7 April 1926, Page 8

HEAVY DAMAGE.

STORM AT RAROTONGA.

MUCH FRUIT LOST. (PRIBS ASSOCIATION TEI^OBAM.) WELLINGTON, April 6. A radio message from the Resident Commissioner at Rarotonga to the Minister-in-Charge of the Cook Islands, states : "Reports to date in Rarotonga show that there has been a 75 per cent, loss of the banana crop, and a loss of 50 per cent, of the orange crop. Orange trees, however, have not been materially damaged. AH the early tomatoes" have been lost, and there has been severe damage to the coconut crops." The Makura, which left Wellington on Tuesday last for Rarotonga and San Francisco, just missed the storm. The Cook Islands Department has not hoard how the Makura handled her cargo at Rarotonga, but as she had not a great deal for the Cook Islands, either to discharge or to take on board, there is no doubt that they were able to handle it with the ship's boats.

The steamer Tahiti, which is due in Wellington on Monday next is to ship a valuablo cargo of fruit at Rarotonga. She was able to securo a launch at Samoa, and the Resident Commissioner at Rarotonga advises the Minister that, with the aid of local boats, and with the assistance of the steamer's boats, to be used at the discretion of the captain, they expect to get the whole of the fruit consignment safely on board. In order to enable this to be done the Union Co. is holding the Tahiti at Rarotonga to the latest possible hour. The Tahiti was due at Rarotonga on Monday (which is our Tuesday).