COOK ISLANDS STORM

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1926, Page 3

COOK ISLANDS STORM

GREAT DEVASTATION

BY TELEGRAPH —rIIESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT.

AUCKLAND, April 13

Further particulars of the storm which visited Cook Islands on March 31st. show that it lasted for some fifteen hours, and during it* height, considerable damage was done to property. but fortunately there was no ■loss *of life. The gale started from the .south-east, hut shortly after veered round to the north, bringing in a very heavy sea, which caused the loss of two launches belonging to the Union Steamship Company, and a. number of lighters. Tho sea gradually became heavier, reaching its maximum at high tide on tho morning of the Ist. April. Heavy seas broke right across the load in front of the Government buildings at Kara tonga, miming for some distance up the Takuvaine Valley road. Several native houses were blown over together with the Ratatongan Fruit Company's packing shed, and the Government boat shed, both at Avarua, and also the Xgatungia Hall. Main trees were uprooted, and there was considerable damage to the plantations along the foreshore as well as to the foreshore itself.

The telephone wires were broken practically between every post. and communication with tins wireless station was interrupted.

All the plantations suffered severely mid' the Resident Commissioner states that it will take at least twelve monThs for the islands to recover from the thrashing they received. The main wharf did nab suffer much damage, but there was considerable damage to the smaller wharf, which will probably have to be reconstructed, while Donald's wharf at Avarua, was also badly damaged. The Commissioner reporting the gale, stated that oranges for Ihe outgoing mail stenmer had been picked prior to ■the storm, and poilion of this lot was loaded by the remaining lighters and local boats.

Mr Mooney, the sub-manager of the Union Company, made special arreng* I *- nients whereby a launch was brought troin Papeete by the Tahiti, and this considerably facilitated tho loading

oppivif ions. The storm itself did a great deal of damage to the banana crop, and it may lie some time befmv it- is really possible to judge the extent of the loss, especially in regard to the plaids themselves.

As far as the orange crop is concerned, tin* loss lias also beer, severe, though the trees have not suffered to any great extent.

The whole crop of early tomatoes, which have just- started to l>o a valuable commercial proposition for the export trade, was lost entirely, and there is nisi* damage reported to the cocoanul plantations. The wind veered to iho west about three o’clock in the >nftoniooi! of Ist. April, and steady rain set in. which became heavier as the wind swung round to il:« conth. Tho sea continued to be very rough for some time anil invaded the foreshore lo a considerable distance.

Air James If, llnmpton, £upcmi(<*ndrill of the Raratongau Wireless Station, who lia.s been ier five years at Cook Islands, on ns i tiered the w’Y.'-lcss is proving a. boon to tic* inhabitants of the outlying islands of the group. During the pisi, two yean tl.-ee i.ew stations have been erected at Aitntaki. Alangnie and At in. These he states, will no doubt, he added to in the near future. A great nee i at the present time is for a station in the Northern Cook Group, at, islands such as Reimrhyn. At present, trade with the northern islands is carried on by schooners, and as it, takes two months to make the round trip, it cun be easily imagined how valuable such a station would lie in that part of the Pacific. Outlying stations arc manned by native operators under tbe control of the superintendent of the main station. Mr Hamplon expresses satisfaction with the manlier in which the native Cook Islanders carry out. their duties. By wireless, medical art vice can be sought and given, and every facility for doing so is given by tbo authorities.