HURRICANE SEASON

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1933, Page 3

HURRICANE SEASON

, ... : A ,<:• V- ... c. TENSION IN THE ISLANDS?" ’ NIAGARA IN Bib “BLOW.” SUVA, January ,17. With the hurripanq sgason^vvltich official extends , from November. , 1 until April 1, now,, “on,” ‘.the , fisual state of tension, . kecames .apparent when the “glass”, drops to Iqw. .readings. Last Tuesday the g|4sf dropped very low, and with .thereport . thata hurricane, was 200 v nu)ps. t off . Vila arjd travelling soiith-ea,st ;i -spine. anxiety was. felt locally,. ' . ..... .-

The meteorological . office ~reported that the hurricane ... would 1 probably. pass to, the south of Fijß.P.nd,. ..this proved to be the. ease.-. As a .-precautionary measure,, however., .;mc>st ■' of .the- small craft i-u Suva Harbour took shelter in Walu Bay, while. . .cutters and larger craft made .across .the,, bay to . the shelter which; is provided inhere by a little bay protected bv,. two islands. • ■ .-.ii'-uf'V %'v s .

..-Tho value of the- radio iports was again'dh evidence'- duping •this period. The NiagaVh was-.on- her way from Auckland to. Suva and .the ,-W-ihemo was also ,ou. the. way to’.Suva from Newcastle., With,-these,;. two vessels coming , up’ .on--Loth ~sides it was.. pCssible for the local . office .to locate the centre of. the huri’iqane- and to issiuy a notice '.that tho'storm .“had passed between Norfolk; Island'’ and the K-ermadecs, eventually continuing on past .Cape Maria Van Diemen. "Both the Niagara and the Waihemo struck; part of the blow both reporting heavy winds and seas. Conditions proved ■•‘rath erf too rough for many of thepassengers, who were pleased to see the calm waters of Suva Harbour, where the liner arrived at three o’clock in the afternoon instead.' of the usual, hour of ino iii the morning