Terrific Hurricane

Damages Central New Caledonia and New Hebrides.

A VERY severe hurricane swept over the New Hebrides and New Caledonia on February 24, doing a considerable amount of damage, especially on the island of Epi, New Hebrides, and in the agricul tural districts of Central New Caledonia.

IT is reported from Noumea that about 2,700 natives on Epi are completely destitute, and the plantations on the island, which comprise some of the finest in the group, have been badly damaged.

Rev, M. Frater, a Presbyterian mis sionary in the New Hebrides, has sent the following radio to the Melbourne office of his Mission: “Terrific hurricane. Houses unroofed.

Ten churches down. Burumba launch lost.”

The message does not state whether the hurricane was confined to Epi, but it is regarded by the mission authori ties as almost certain that the islands of Pauma and Ambrym were involved.

Burumba is the headquarters of the Mission on Epi.

It was also reported that the southern ond of Mallicollo (N.H.) had suffered severely.

The full force of the hurricane struck Central New Caledonia and the villages Houailou, Canala, and Bourail are all in ruins. Other villages suffered severely. Settlers in the vicinity are stated to be destitute.

The Governor of the Colony has sent an urgent appeal to France for financial help.

Laperouse Strikes Hurricane.

The steamer “Laperouse,” which was on her way from Noumea to Port Vila, struck a terrific wind, with high seas.

However, she came through the en counter undamaged. A few glasses in the saloon were broken.

The purser, interviewed on the ves sel’s return to Sydney, said that coco

nut plantations on Epi had suffered considerably, and it was thought it would take at least three years for these plantations to recover, Both the East and West Coasts of Centra| New Caledonia had been swept.

The most serious damage was at the town of Bourall, where houses were un roofed and badly battered.

No estimates of the losses caused by the hurricane were known in Noumea when the vessel left on her return to Sydney. It was believed that the na tives of both Epi and Central New Caledonia had suffered heavy losses.

The small town of Bowrail, in Western New Caledonia, which suffered severely in the hurricane. It was built originally as a centre for convicts who had been released, but were not allowed to leave the island.