TERRIBLE STORM IN FIJI AND TONGA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1461, 30 January 1886, Page 3

TERRIBLE STORM IN FIJI AND TONGA.

From Fiji news is to band of the storm on the group on the 4th iust. Suva and Levuka escaped almost scot-free, but 4he western part of Viti Levu and the island of Radavu were not so fortunate. These felt the full force of the gale. At Nagroraa native cutter which had put to sea to escape going on shore, foundered, end four men were drowned, the captain alone escaping, after being thirty hours in the water. The village of Manuka, containing 51 native houses, was levelled, A number of the houses of the natives were blown down at Radavu, and considerable damage was done to native plantations. The loss of several of the small crafts owned by the Fijians is also reported. On the night of the sth inst. the gale swept over Tonga. About 5 a.m. the schooner Saucy Lass, of Fiji, parted from her three anchors, and came on shore ; as also did the Catherine, a vessel belong'ng to a Tonga chief. As the tide rose they came in well over the reef. About 6 a.m. the three-masted schooner Agues Edghill parted her chain, and went on stern first, and in less than an hour she foundered in three fathoms of water, and now lies a complete wreck. The captain anfi some of the crew had a very narrow escape. Very little damage was done on shore ; scarcely a house was blown down, and only a few banana trees were levelled. The storm was the same which visited Fiji. It is also reported from Tonga that two more subOjaripe volcanoes have broken out to the north of Nukualofa, but no paificulars are to hand. A deposit of pumice several feet down was left ashore from the last outbreak. The Saucy Lass has since been floated almost uninjured.