Central Pacific

Hurricane in Central Pacific Extensive Damage in Fiji and Niue

AT the end of February a hurricane swept through the Central Pacific, causing much damage to houses and crops in Fiji, to banana plantations in Samoa and the Cook Islands, and to buildings on Niue Island.

Lasting for eight hours in Fiji, and reaching a velocity of 110 m.p.h., the hurricane damaged a number of Suva buildings, and an Indian was killed when one house collapsed.

At Nausori, the CSR Co. manager’s home was destroyed and the company’s mill received slight damage. Cane crops suffered severely. Flooding of the Rewa River impaired the CSR pumping equip ment, and in the same district native villages were flattened by the gale.

Jang King Loong’s cutter “Marama ni Yanuyanu” was swept onto a reef at Suva, together with a number of other smaller craft. The auxiliary vessel “Tui Valavala” (Morris, Hedstrom Ltd.) was driven ashore at Taveuni. At Levuka, Patterson Bros.’ launch “Jubilee” and several others were reported lost.

A week later heavy seas and strong gales, caused apparently by the tailend of the hurricane swinging north-easterly in a semi-circle, did considerable dam age to banana plantations in Western Samoa and the Cook Group.

In Rarotonga (Cook Is.), some native houses were demolished, but there are no details of damage (if any) in other parts of the group.

The little island of Niue, lying mid way between Samoa and the Cook Islands, apparently was right in the path of the gale. At Mutalau, a new Government school and a mission school were unroofed and 20 private buildings wrecked. Most of the other buildings on the island were seriously damaged also.

Banana Trade Hit The damage to Samoan and Cl banana crops will greatly reduce banana exports to New Zealand, a trade which has been increasing steadily since copra markets

disappeared. Ordinarily, Fiji would make up the quota, but it is not yet known whether Fiji plantations also suffered in the hurricane. Fiji’s banana industry only lately has recovered from the effects of the 1938 hurricane and any further damage to crops would be a serious set back to growers, who in recent months have been sending large shipments to NZ.

The inner port section of Suva, where the hurricane was severely felt. Suva city, proper lies round to the left of this picture.