Terrific Hurricanes.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3621, 8 March 1906, Page 3

Terrific Hurricanes.

CABLE NEWS.

TAHITI DEVASTATED

TEN THOUSAND LIVES

LOST,

New York March 5. ' The steamer Mariposa, which has arrived at ’Frisco, reports that a terrific hurricane on the night of February 7th devastated the Tahiti Tuamotu Islands, Ten thousand are reported to have been drowned, and five million dollars’ damage was done. The British and American Consulates at Paaeeti were wrecked, and five hundred British subjects need relief.

Several islands have disappeared.

AN AUSTRALIAN TOWN DEMOLISHED.

Brisbane, March 5. During a hurricane at Croydon, the majority of the buildings in the town were wrecked, including the Catholic Church and the Salvation Army Barracks. The Anglican Church was blown over. Torrential rain is falling, and the telegraphs are interrupted.

The hurricane at Croydon was the worst ever experienced. It •truck the town early on Sunday morning and raged furiously for eleven hours, demolishing buildings in all directions and leaving scarcely a place in the suburbs undamaged. Throughout the gale rain fell in blinding sheets and streets and houses were flooded, adding to the miseries of the sufferers. The Palace Hotel, a fine two-atoried structure, was unroofed and all the outhouses demolished. The Church of England was shifted bodily 12 feet off the blocks and the Catholic Church was completely wrecked. A cottage occupied by Mr Bed, one of the proprietors of the Croydon Record,, suddenly gave asd* settling down, became a complete ruin. The whole of Bed’s family were inside, and had a miraculous escape. Many other small buildings in the same locality were demolished. The Queen’s Hotel and Salvation Army barracks were completdy wrecked. Many humpies on the outskirts of the town were scattered over the landscape. The Bank of New South Wales lost its roof.

These particulars only give a faint idea of the damage. Every house was flooded and many families are homeless. Golden Gate also suffered, but not so severely as Croydon. The three hotels were destroyed. It is impossible at present to estimate the damage. It will probably total ,£20,000. The weather is still squally, and telegraphic communication is not fully restored. Torrential rains have fallen in the far West. The rivers are in high flood, and are still rising. Large stretches of country are under water. The mail service is disorganised, and several townships are cut off. Townsville and Barcaldine report that the railway is damaged in several places by floods, and traffic is delayed. All goods have been removed from the wharves in anticipation of a big inundation. A gale is raging on the coast. A FISHING FLEET IN TROUBLE.

Christiana, March 6.

A furious storm scattered the Norwegian fishing fleet of four hundred boats of! Gjaelingore Islands,. Thirty-four men were drowsed*