Hurricanes

Severe Damage In N. Hebrides

WITHIN a fortnight, in February, two hurricanes swept across the New Hebrides and caused great dam age.

The centre of the second hurricane passed over Tongoa and Emai, and swept everything before it.

The mission-house and church on Tongoa have been blown down, while scarcely a native house is left standing.

On Emai, the dwelling house and store of Captain C. E. Hill were razed to the ground, while great havoc was wrought on the plantation. Mr. and Mrs.

Hill were absent in Sydney, on a long deferred holiday.

The following report was published in Auckland:— A disastrous hurricane in the New Hebrides, during February, has been reported to the N.Z. Presbyterian Church.

Seven mission churches were destroyed on Nguna, two on Pele, and one each on Maso and Lelefa.

Natives suffered terribly. Many native houses, some whole villages, were wiped out. All orange, lemon, lime and bread fruit trees and a large percentage of coconuts were uprooted.

There will be poor copra crops for years.

Ten days later, a second hurricane arrived, and great havoc was wrought by tremendous seas.

Damage In New Caledonia

THE hurricane, which swept through the New Hebrides in February, seriously affected New Caledonia also. The following details are taken from “Bulletin du Commerce”, Noumea, of February 28:— It is reported from Hienghene that only one room of the post office remained standing. The police station, dispensary, hotel and the church were also dam aged.

At Voh, the damage was so extensive that local planters cannot remember worse. Cocoa and coffee plantations were laid waste. The planters are asking for the speedy formation of a commission for the purpose of assessing the extent of the damage. A similar state of affairs prevails at Temala, where buildings on the property of Mme Girard, were destroyed by falling trees.

Gomen suffered a great deal of dam age and, at one stage, water rose in the yard of Mon. Henri Holly’s pro perty to a depth of two metres.

At Ouaco, the wharf was extensively damaged and the structure was carried away from the pylons. The windmill, which was used for pumping water into the wells, is completely demolished.

Damage is estimated at more than 150,000 francs.

Plantations were ruined in the vicin ity of Capala, and it is apparent that, as a result of this condition of affairs, together with the exceptional drought this summer, the cocoa crop will be negligible.

At Kone, police buildings were dam aged and the verandah of Ballande’s store was destroyed.