HURRICANE IN COOK GROUP

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21414, 5 March 1935, Page 11

HURRICANE IN COOK GROUP

♦ Details of Damage MUCH FRUIT LOST WATERFRONT SWEPT BY HEAVY SEAS (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, March 4. Details of hurricane damage in the Cook Islands arrived by the Maunganui to-day and were made available by the Minister for External Affairs. A cable message from Judge H. F. Ayson says:

"On my return I found the people cheerful in spite of their hurricane experiences and losses, and the whole population working vigorously here, and in other islands of the group to restore the damage. "In Rarotonga all roads were open and sanitation and water supply were restored by February 16. There is now no risk of an epidemic. "In Avarua village, more than 1000 men voluntarily cleared the roads and public places of more than 1000 tons of coral, rock, sand, fallen trees, and debris, and in other districts of Rarotonga hundreds of men similarly cleared storm debris. The general health is good. "I am advised from Atiu that Mitiaro received the full force of the hurricane. There was no loss of life—but serious damage was done to all crops, and a food shortage is threaUned. Damage on Waterfront "High winds and seas were experienced at Rarotonga on February 7, 8, and 9, reaching hurricane force on February 10 and 11. On Sunday, February 10, the wind and seas swung into the north, and the main road at Avarua was continually under water as seas came straight into the harbour. At noon a huge wave wrecked the fruit in-

spection office, and half an hour later, while still working, J. Bouchier, head of the fruit department, was caught by a wave, and his leg crushed by the lighter against a wall, and shattered. The Administration offices were flooded to a depth of 18 inches. All telephone communication was broken. Early in the morning a large shop occupied by S. Hopkins, photographer, was washed six yards up the valley. People found it really dangerous to cross from the Cook Islands Trading Company's main store to Jagger and Harvey's store, as huge seas were sweeping across the whole front. Road Swept by Sea's "A large quantity of coral and debris was piled in front of the Hotel Rarotonga, but material damage was averted by the sea wall which was built in 1931. Seas entered the hospital building in the late afternoon but the patients were removed. All people were warned to keep away from the waterfront on Sunday night, as roofing iron, flying through the air from the cargo sheds, was dangerous. Seas crossed the main road from Nikao to the wireless station, a distance of a mile and a half, and were driving well inland. The road to the wireless station was blocked with trees, and covered in coral and sand. A trip to the station took more than an hour and a quarter. The main wireless aerial was down, but communication was maintained through subsidiary aerials. No Sign of Panic "There were no signs of panic among the natives, whose attitude was fatalistic. All appeared to be busy cleaning up their ground and making repairs. Special mention is made of the leadership and work of Makea Nui Tinirau, Ariki, in the

salvage of the Union Company's launches and luggers, which were carried bodily from the wharf into the valley for safety. "A message received on February 20 at Rarotonga from the steamer Golden Bear, which called at Palmerston Island, reported that damage had been done to several buildings, and the church roof had been blown away. Few coconuts were left on the trees, and the inhabitants were said to require sup-

plies urgently, but apart from one leper there was no sickness. "The report of the fruit inspector states that fruit losses may not exceed 75 to 80 per cent. Should this prove accurate the total export should be about 10,000 cases. "Reports from Papeete state that while the islands of Penrhyn, Manihiki, and Rakahanga received bad weather, it did not amount to a hurricane." Writing home to Wanganui recently, a school teacher who was once teaching in New Zealand and is now at a private school in Sydney, says that schools in Australia use vastly different methods from those in New Zealand. Over there each child has morning tea and is supplied with a bottle of milk and an orange. "Their lunches are also provided," the letter states, "a further drink of milk and two thick brown bread sandwiches (tomato and banana). Every afternoon for half an hour when they come into school they lie flat on their backs on little mats and I am expected to plav bush music to them and at the same time see that they keep lying down. It is not too easy a job, I might sav."