ISLAND HURRICANE

Shannon News, 5 February 1926, Page 3

ISLAND HURRICANE

BLOW AT RAROTONGA. A CHRISTMAS- VISITATION. FRUIT CROPS BADLY HIT. "RAROTONGA. Jan. 11. The night of December?2 was one of little or no rest for the inhabitants, the native portion being largely engaged in saving their belongings from the wreckage of their homes. The wind blew, with hurricane force, starting about 11 p.m., and continued to increase in force till daybreak. 4.30 a.m. when it was at its height. By <\ a.in next dav sill was its calm as possible, and only the wreckage to mark the occasion. The nativc.built shades got a bad run and were to be seen next day iv various stages of ruin. Fortun-. ately no lives were lost, although one old man was found in his shack a prisoner, and had the one post not stood, his escape was well nigh impossible. European built houses suffered to the extent of having thcii verandahs and roofs carried away while the wharf and lightering plant vAso suffered damage, two lighters brin" lost. 'The lowboat 'was rescued after an Hour's buffeting.. The pluck of native enabled, the rescue to be made when the craft had suffered or.lv small damage. Fortunately the other lowboat id in New Zealand for oxerhaul or the results might, have been different, as the basin wherein the plant is moored is very small. The sea was till over the roads round the waterfront, the wharves being out of sight, while all round the island- more or less damage was done by the fury of the waves. Many . private residences on the beach side of the road got a dusting, and what were niec lawns and flower gardens are now carrying a heavy crop or. large and small boulders, some too, heavy for any man ; to handle. I The greatest calamity of all lis the demise of Faddy'* Market, the speciality of the Fublic Works Departmont" of the year 1919. It was con> pletely -wrecked. The black side of the picture is the damage to crops. Banana* are more or l.'ss destroyed, and while a small <l,ipmenl goes forward today per Ma. kura being the salvage from the wreck, it is safe to say that Cook h-land output, for 19-ti will reach a record low mark. The growers are on strike, and will not Plant under the present system of control, so that the total number ot new plants for the coining year is small, aad the blow has taken Us toil of the old ones. The orange crops also suffered and large quantities oi. half-matured fmil are lying beneath the trees. The coconut palms are also badly shaken ~,, the centres being blown over and damaged, while most of the ilowers and young nuts are damaged, which will mean a poor year for copra. Food supplies a'/is very short owing to-seasonal conditions, and the. immediate outlook for the growers is very discouraging.