Hurricane Season
p. 35 · Read in the full issue
In Cook Islands
From Our Own Correspondent.
RAROTONGA, December 4.
DECEMBER marks the commence ment of the rainy season, which continues until about the end of March. This period is commonly re ferred to as the “hurricane” season.
Geographically, Rarotonga is only just within the tropical zone, and for tunately escapes the wreckage of plan tations by cyclones and tornadoes which occasionally sweep wildly across the South Seas.
Between now and the end of March we shall experience frequent tropical downpours, followed by steaming hot days, with the high rocky peaks on the island shrouded in heavy mist.
The mosquito will now become more prevalent and very active. Water-filled coconut shells strewn in great numbers about the plantations and throughout the bush, and re-filled at each down pour, will provide ideal breeding re ceptacles; in the bush the wet, sodden masses of fallen leaves will create other breeding spots; the mud plots of taro, terraced along the valleys, also will sustain prolific mosquito life until the “wing” stage is reached.
The surroundings at Avarua, the main village, are more open, and be cause of this the pest is not so bad there as at many other parts of the island. A case of filaria occurs from time to time, but happily there is no incidence of malaria.
We shall expect fairly severe gales to occur at odd times dyring the next few months. Usually they are short lived, but on account of their cyclonic nature are a menace to the small ves sels which constitute the island ship ping service.
The two island schooners therefore either remain in the land-locked la goon at Penrhyn or tie up at Rarotonga.
Sometimes one or other of them pro ceeds to Papeete for overhaul until the recommencement in April of more sett led conditions. There is no harbour at Rarotonga or at any of the islands of the inner group in which a vessel might take safe shelter from a storm.
The nearest port of safety for shipping in these waters is Papeete. From now until April 15 the islands of the Cook Group will remain isolated from one another, except for the wireless sta tions at four of the main islands.