HURRICANE AT NIUAFOU

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2388, 18 February 1915, Page 6

HURRICANE AT NIUAFOU

ISLAND DEVASTATED. By Telesrrault—Press Association—Oopyrighl Suva, February 17. The steamer Tofua, from Samoa, brings,a letter from Mr. Prothers, a trader, reporting a hurricane at Ninafou from-January 16 to 18. It 6 tar ted at 4 o'clock on January 16. Previous Sales had been from the north-east to tno north-west, but the hurricane came from the south, a!nd the island was devastated. The disturbance was more in the nature of a tornado than a hurricane. Every house is down, also the coconut t trees, as if a fire had swept tile island. It is estimated that those will be no mora coconuts for eight years. Tliore is no information regarding any lives lost. The bulk store, copra shed, and dwelling owned by Tyndall and Ross, Niuafou, wero wrecked by .the hurricane.

LOSS OF PROPERTY. . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, February 17. Captain Ross, of Tyndall and Ross, states that their buildings and eontents, valued at £5000, were destroyed by tho hurricane. Their loss must be iioavy. NATIVES HAVE SUFFICIENT FOOD. Auckland, February 17. Messrs. Ross and Tyndall, of Auckland, had large trading interests in the Island at Niuapou, wliero the hurricano occurred. At tho time of tho hurricane there was an amount of copra and other produoe ill store on tho Island belonging to those gentlemen valued at £3000.

Although the island is isolated, the inhabitants do not depend on the natural products for their food supply. A largo quantity of foodstuffs is taken to the island two or three times a year by trading vessels. Tho last cargo of provisions was taken down in November last, and was sufficient to last the inhabitants for some time yet. Uaptnin Ross points out that although tho coconut plantations have been destioycd there are still root crops coming on. Tho period of eight years mentioned in tlie cablegram as the timo that will elapse before tho inhabitants will be ablo to resume trading is in Captain lioss's opinion somewhat exaggerated. Tlw.ro is also a trading station on tho island bolmsiug to a German liim.