WRECK AT RAROTONGA. MANY HOUSES BLOWN DOWN. CHURCHES UNROOFED. GREAT DAMAGE TO CROPS.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 243, 25 February 1888, Page 5

WRECK AT RAROTONGA. MANY HOUSES BLOWN DOWN. CHURCHES UNROOFED. GREAT DAMAGE TO CROPS.

A furious gale raged clown Karotonga way from January 22nd to tho 26th, and a considerable amount, of damage was done. At Rarotonga 70 or 80 houses were blown down, and many of the orange, cocoa-nub and banana trees were completely stripped. The Auckland schooner Atlantic, belonging to Messrs Donald and Edinbnough, was blown on to tho reef, and became a total wreck, happily no lives being lost. Reports from tho other islands forming the group are anxiously awaited, us it is feared that ilioy also may have su tiered from tho gale. Tho Atlantic war* a wooden steamer of 60 tons burden, and wa.s built here in 1874. Two ox Unee yearn since ohe was wrecked down among ■ the inlands, but was reeoveied and brought down Co Auckland and repaired. The insiuanoes on tho ves-t-el when sho wa.s last wiecked were £400 on the hull and C2OO on tho cargo, both /policies being in the United olh'eo. Viom accounts we have received ot the wreck it appeals that the hurricane lasted two days at Uarotonga and when it came on the crew mooed hero securely and went ashoie. On the second day the moorings* parted and swept on by the hurricane the vessel was dashed on a reef some 200 yards away, where she was in a very few minutes a total wieek, the bottom being smashed completely out ot her. She had on board at tho time a part cargo of cotton, the result of a cruise she had but a short time returned from, besides a large amount of trade. The wreck was a couple of days afterwards put up at auction and knocked down to tho bid ot Mr H, Nicholas for $50. On shoie the havoc was very great amongbt tho houses and pioperty, though fortunately no lives were lost. The churches which ate built of stone stood the iorco of the hmricauo, but their roofs were swept away, while a large number of tho native houses were levelled with tho (/round. It can bo very well believed that the town presents a J very dilapidated picture and that it is quite in i uins. (.ireat damage has been done to the cotton and cofleo crops as well as to the banana and orange gloves.