AUCKLAND SPECIAL

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1700, 16 March 1906, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL

the premier.

(Special to Gisborne Times,

Auckland, inet night. Tbo Premier pays a visit to Australia □ext month. HURRICANE AT TAHITI.

Among the visitors to Tahiti at the time of the hurricano was Mr J. C. Buckingham, a tourist, a passenger to Auckland by the Taviuni. Ha stated tho effects of tho visitation wore not noarly so severe as had bren represented in the oabled account sont from San Franoisoo. “ But, of course," ho said, “ this is just like American journalism, so familar to all newspaper roadors.” Tho statements, be addedj woro ridiculously overdrawn, especially io regard to tho disaster at Tahiti itself. Ho smiled at tho idea of the loss of life (about 120 persons) being magnifiad into 10 000. 'The damage, estimated as amounting to 5,000,000 dollars, could only havo boon conceived by the wildest of imaginings, as the sum named was about equal to the value placed upon the whole island. THE SCENE AT PAPEETE.

Mr Buckingham said that a tidal wave was hardly the oorrect term to apply to tbe visitation. It was really an abnormally high tide which roso to considerable distance above ordinary level, and advancing stoadily submerged the town as far as tbe market place, whioh stands on the high ground 200 yards or 300 yards from tbe beach. Above this the town was in Bafo'.y as far as the water was concerned. Most of the buildings within the submerged area were light wooden structures resting on stone pilsp, etandiog about 2£ft or 3t from the ground. The rush of water getting under the buildings lifted them oil their foundations and twisted thrm, and soattsred them in all directions. The wooden houses withstood the test put upon them, and the shelter of these was sought by oooupaDts of less secure dwellings. The spectacle was a woeful one next morning when the inhabitants, who had been deprived of their homes and most of all of their bel nginga surveyed the desolate eoene, Fortunately the wind was against the tide, or tbe damage would have been much greater. In addition to the wrecking of tho buildings, a great deal of damage was done to the bread fruit and oocoanut trees, tbe former being the greater sufferers. Tbe Frenoh residents took their losses with philosophical calmness, and displayed marked courage and coolness. The storm, like all suoh disaster?, was a tended with a variety of inoidjnts. Many of the inhabitants who were net successful in rrashing the proleotion of stone houses or of tbo higher inland ground, had some exciting experience?, and many of those who eeosped with thels lives had a very close fight for it. One well known resident, Lovina, proprietress of one of the hotels, when resoued was fbatiDg along one of tbo streets on a portion of the back fence of her premises. Ttiis lady’s weight is about 20 stone, and her escape with such a handicap on her movements was the subject of much congratulation on the part of her friends.

NIGHT IN A PALM TREE,

Another man was made prisoner in a small out-building fjr several hours. During tho height of the storm a whits resident of the adjacent Island of Motula, Darned Le Biloc, was seen to be flashing a lantern as a signal of distress, but tbe rendering of any assistance was of course out of question. Next haorning Le Biloc’s dead body was discovered in tbe harbor, and his wifo was rescued from the top of a pa'm tree, where she had spent the live long night of terror, dreading every moment to be swept from her place of refuse.

A CHINAMAN’S DESPAIR,

Another tragic incident was the suicide of a Chinese resident, who was so overcome with grief after the siorm at the loss of his worldly goods, that he cut his throat.

PATIENi’3 IN THE HOSPITAL,

Iq addition to the loss of Jives, there were a number of casualties, and the next day over 30 patients with more or jess severe injuries, were under treatment in the hospital. TYPHOID AT WAIHI. Thore is an alarming outbreak of fy phoid and scarlet fever at Waihi.

TRAMCAR COLLISION,

A collision between two tramoars on the EiDgsland line was narrowly averted yesterday. A combination oar, driven by a learner, left the branch line at Eden Vine corner for Klngslaud. As it rounded the bend a double-decker was sighted oomiog from Kingsiaad, and a collision looked imminent. A Mr Newbigen jumped off the oar and fell on the roal. The motorman of the c.mbination car pushed the learner aside aud appliol the breaks.

The driver of the double-decker having Btopped bis car the collision was averted by a matter of inohep. Mr Newbigen was then pioked up. Hs arm was badly bruised and soraped, and owing to a pipe ho had in his mouih at the limo a tooth was knocked out and the roof- His mouth was cut. THE NAPIER RACES.

A Napier teport of the raoe in whioh a Gisborne horse showed out so prominently is as follows:

Napier Cup.

223 Murray’s Whakawehi, 8. Raid ... 1 145 W. S. Davidson’s Douche, G.Troae 2 214 Lyrist, A. 0 liver 3

Also.started: 842 Ghoorka, 141'Mystification, Douohe made the play for half a I mile, and Ghoorka then assumed comI rnand, oloeely followed by Lyrist end I Douche. Two furlongs from home Ghoorka dropped back, and Whakawebi joined issue with Lyrist aud Douche. The trio looked like fightiog out a great finish, I the whips being cut on all three, but when once fairly in tbo straight Whakawehi drew away and won a good race by p length. Time, 2.5 1-5. Div,, £4 ss. A mistake was made in taking the time from a dieo some d stanco in front of the starting point. P.ivato wa'ches made the I full time 2.10 1 5.