New Caledonia’S Industries

From Our Own Correspondent.

Noumea July 16.

WE in New Caledonia, like persons in other parts of the world, have suffered considerably on account of the fall in prices of all primary products. In addition to this we have suffered from a shrinking local market.

Although the local inhabitants here devote themselves largely to the culture of their cotton, copra and coffee plantations, to trade and the raising of cattle, for its wealth New Caledonia depends much more upon its deposits of nickel, chrome and manganese than it does upon agriculture. The mines are worked by coolies, indentured from French Tonkin, or from Java. In the good times these mines employed thousands of coolies and, over and above our staple crops, we were assured of a good market for all our small produce. Pigs, especially, brought a fictitious price, as the Tonquinese will pay any price for a piece of succulent pork.

But now a great number of the mines are closed down, many of the Tonquinese have returned to their native land and our pigs are not only fallen in price, but are unsaleable.

Three Tornadoes.

It is very unfortunate for New Caledonia that during the world's crisis, and the low prices of primary products, the country has suffered from three cyclones in three successive years — an unprecedented occurence.

The first in February, 1932, swept across from Thio, a nickel-mining centre

on the East Coast. This was a tornado, blowing in circles, and tearing up great trees by the roots and levelling everything in its course. Great damage was caused to all the plantations, from the outlying districts of Bouloupari, La Foa and Moindou and as far as Bourail, the latter town being practically razed to the ground. Fortunately, the further north, and also the capital in the south, were outside the vortex and suffered very little, any, damage at all. Commissioners ap pointed by the government inspected all damage with a view to financial relief, and a considerable sum has already been distributed.

In the second cyclone, in January, 1933, Noumea was the centre of the disturb ance, houses being severely damaged and in some suburbs completely demolished.

The beautiful old shade trees in the squares of the town were badly smashed, and the electric light and water was completely cut off for several days. All small craft in the harbour were severely dam aged and a steamer now engaged in island trade, and which brings an occasional cargo of coal from Brisbane, was blown high and dry upon an island in the har hour and was only successfully refloated after many attempts.

It was fortunate that Noumea suffered in this way once only, and the commercial life of the island was able in two cASES out of three to proceed normally.

Cyclone of Last March On March 26 and 27 of this year the north of the island was swept by still

another cyclone. Hundreds of telephone poles were torn from the ground and many plantations were destroyed.

Just before the blow started the steamer St. Joseph put to sea, towing an old hulk, which was to have been on its last voyage and which carried two thousand tons of nickel ore, a crew of fifteen and one woman passenger. Getting into difficulties herself, the St. Joseph was forced to cut the hulk adrift, and she was left at the mercy of the hurricane, broke in two and sank and all hands were lost. The captain who was in charge of her was a young man who had only just come out from France in order to take over a new ship.

Tropical islands like ours need all their luxuriant growth to make good the de struction caused by these tornadoes. The desolation they leave in their wake is almost indescribable; yet now, only two months later, the lawns are green, the shrubs are again in flower and the paw paws, supported by poles, have lost their drunken appearance. Thanks to bound less optimism, hard work and the luxu riant growth of nature, life on our coffee plantation goes on serenely, just as though the cyclone had never happened.