Destructive Hurricane.

Manawatu Herald, 22 January 1895, Page 3

Destructive Hurricane.

. <* «- The Ohau, from Fiji, brings news of a destructive hurricane there on January 7th and Bth. Of five churches of which Suva lately boasted, the Presbyterian, Wesleyan Native, and Church of England collapsed entirely. The European Church of England was partly unroofed. The Roman Catholic structure came off with little damage. Government experienced considerable loss in the destruction of the Customhouse and bonded store, a two~storey * building, which was totally wrecked. Of the snwll'T stores many were entirely destroyed. The stores and warehouses came off best, their losses being comparatively light. Many of the houses had roofs, verandahs, and fences blown away. Tht patients and attendants at the hospital had a bad time, it being deemed advisable to remove the former to a smaller but stronger structure.

At Lmto tto bavmw Ophiv *M' VNok«d ofl a mt with Jw tons of copva, Tha barque Diofle from Africa had hey masts cut away, i which saved her from foundering. Several small craft were driven to sea. the Tavinui had a narrow e.ncape of being driven. on a reef.. The native village at Vbucka was. blown to pieces and the village of Wairiki levelled to the ground except the Eoman Catholic Church. The cutters Stark and Eleanor, and a schooner, name unknown, foundered off Taviuni, and it is believed all their crews were lost. The Holmhm'st Sugar Estate estimates its loss at £1,600. The cocoanut plantations on the island have been ruined. Two cutters names unknown, were wrecked at Wakago. The barque Ophir was sold by auction for £800 and the cargo for £570.— Press Association.