THE LATE DESTRUCTIVE GALE IN FIJI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2139, 25 March 1886, Page 3

THE LATE DESTRUCTIVE GALE IN FIJI.

Thf following extracts from the local papers will convey an idea of the immint of hi\r»c wrought in the islands . by the hutucaue of tho 4th inst : — Kulv on Tuesday a variable biroincter and a stoiniv *ky p.ne warning of what in jt»ht p-i'sihlv follow, and as the tbreiten ing indications became idoio ni.iikfi, one by one the small vessel* in harbour followed each othois to tho more nheltercd anchoi age at fcl 11 Kornkoro, mitil, before sundown <<n Wi»ne-d»v, the harbour, viewed from tho tuuth i-no of the town, exhibited an appe iraticJft never before seen by anyone of the pi u&nt resident-, of L'vuka, in an e-.paiiM' of \\.it«'i unbroken by the lines of a single hull at anchor uitlim its bounds. The weather had gradually grown wm-se thiotigliout the Wednesday, and nightfall hut in -vith the barometer snowing a steady lowei ing hour after hour. il.uii and wind sqnalls gmdinilv increased in intensity and duration through oat tin night, the culminating point being re ichfd at high water shortly after daylight on the morning of Thur-day, tho Ith, at which time buildings, either from fragility of construction or the weikness of old age, were being demolished by the fury of the wind in all directions, while the hi caking sei along the seawaid line of Uoach street, bicked up by the high tides and heavy flow of water fiom creek and hillside, wis making havoc with our main thoroughfare. From daylight till dark of that day the wind blew with great velocity In addition to this the rain fell heavily all day The damage to property under cover was chiefly caused by the rain. Most, if not all, the houses in Suva were flooded. Business was suspended for the day, every one being occupied in keeping their effects out of the water. Early »n tho morning of Thursday a large number of irniall boats and punts were mink in the harbour, several of the latter being totally wrecked. The cutter Maggie had a narrow escap» ; she was dragging her anchom, when Captain Calligban pluckily secured a boat from Messrs -McEwtn and Co., and got her Hafely moored with an additional anchor. During the forenoon efforts were frequently made to reach the end of the wharf, but the adventurers had to return, nnny of them narrowly escaping being blown into the sea. The Thistle was also blown fiom her anchorage and driven on the L.imi reef, where she lies probably a total wieck. The Shannon left the hulk where she was moored, and rode out the gale »t anchor. The Gunga also hauled out fronvtha wharf and anchored in the Btfe.lfn. The ?teamer Clyde stood out the gale all day until well on in the afternoon, when one of the cables parted. She then drifted right on to the wharf, and, in a very short time, drove her stern in, and sank alongside the wharf. A cutter which has been in tha harbour for a considerable titr.o, shared the same fate. She aNo at present lies in deep water close to the wharf. Upon reaching the island of Rabi, a fearful scene of desolation presented itself. The dwelling house had been blown down about 11 p.m. on Thursday, and Captain H{H'i family lived in two tanks till the arrival of the steamer. All the labour houses were washed away by an inrush of the sea-, which swept 200 yards on shore. Iv this three Indians were drowned, or crushed to death, and one little girl, the daughter of Mr Parfitt's Indian cook, who with her mother was on a visit to their friends, was swept out to sea and never teen again. The site where the labour houses stood is now a bed of sand and shingle. The fibre mill was partially dcs troyed, the store houses were utterly wrecked, and the boat-house and punt Iwere smashed up. The island itself presents the appearance of widespread desolation. All the trees have suffered terribly, and it will take years to fully recover from the effects T»f the hurricane. The members of Captain Hill's family left by the steamer to find shelter at Taviuni. [Mrs and Miss Hill have been staying at Gwynne's hotel, Hamilton, for some weeks, and were naturally much concerned to hoar particulars- of the disaster.] Proceeding up coast all the natives towns have b°en totally destroyed. At Wairiki Mr Wilson's coffeehouse is unroofed. Saver \1 others are down, and those loft standing aro more or less severely damaged. Snmosoino town is in rums. Wailagi has been swept away by wind and sea, and the site tiansformed into a bhingle bed. At Gfla the dwellinghouses are partially destroyed. The tobacco store is a total wreck, and much other damage has been done. The manager repoits that the Alpha ostvte is utterly devastated. The ten plantations have been uprooted, and the trees blown away. The labour lines are all down. One Indian was killed and several severely injured. The dwelling house of Mr Peterson, near Gila, disappeared entirely, and no estate has escaped without serious damage. From the centre tr&ck of the storm, which evidently passed over Taviuni, and \yithin thirty miles or so of Ovalau, travelling to the S.W., it is expected that bad accounts will vet come to hand from the other islands of Lomai Viti. It is thought that Kadavu will have suffered very severely, and that some of the islands of the Windward Group will have been very roughly visited. News from Kadavu is to the effect that the late storm was but lightly felt in that quaiter. Very little wind was expeiienced, and the damage done was trifling in extent. The w locked vessel Flora was still on the reuf, with her masts standing, aud apparently iv the same position. At Mago the crops are laid by the \iolencoof the wind, bnt it is hoped they will lovive. Great injury has been done to the nut trees, and it is hoped they will be laigely affected for some long time to come. All the labour houses have been laid flat, and many of the other buildings seriously damaged. The wharf and landing place has been swept away, and 19 tons of sugar weift wetted with the saltwater, and will need to be sent through the centrifugal again. Tho towns of Vodravadra, Yedua, Ureta, Nncavnn.idi, Vanuaso, and Malowai were completely washed away. Lamiti was partially destroyed, and at Vanuaso a shark was* killed among the houses. Tho whole coast line is completely wrecked and changed in appearance, and the condition of the people is pitiable in the extieint*. Much damage has been done to shipping, but the sugar plantations are all reported safe.