Orange Crop Severely

Storm Damage In

Cook Is.

Orange Crop Severely Damaged

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Feb. 1.

IN January, the Cook Islands were swept by a cyclonic storm. Material dam age was comparatively light, but destruction of food crops and damage to the forthcoming orange crop was severe tnroughout the Group.

From the beginning of the disturbance, the inhabitants were kept posted with weather bulletins, and all possible pre cautions were taken to prevent property damage.

The first warnings were received from Wellington and Apia on Saturday morn ing, January 12, when the storm centre was reported to be midway between Aitutaki and Mauke. Mitiaro reported bad storm and increasing wind.

The next day, the centre was re ported moving slowly SW and approach ing Rarotonga. At Rarotonga, the wind was coming from the ESE at gale force, with heavy rains and mounting sea.

At 7.30 a.m. on the 14th. the storm centre was midway between Aitutaki and Rarotonga and, while there was a tem porary lull at Rarotonga, all other islands except Mangaia were experiencing heavy storm conditions, with barometers still falling. Palmerston atoll had to remove population and radio equipment inland.

During the evening and night of the 14th, the storm centre passed close by Rarotonga, while the barometer fell to 28.56. Seas crossed the road at a number of places around the island, doing some damage to bridges and the road surface.

Along the Avarua waterfront the road was littered with coral debris, especially near the wharves and the hotel.

Messrs. A. B. Donald’s wharf in Avatiu was partly destroyed.

At Ngatangiia, seas crossed the road, destroying the church wall and washing the fragments, together with coral boulders from the seashore, into the church grounds.

Cant. D. Cambridge’s ketch. “Taipi,” which was anchored in Ngatangiia har bour, was washed ashore and denosited 20 yards inland, fortunately without damage. A number of large trees were felled in this area. Muri snorts ground was inundated and the sports house col lapsed when a large tree fell across it.

There was very little damage to build ings but food crops suffered badly and it is feared that this season’s orange crop will be seriously affected.

OF the outer islands, Mangaia, which has had its full share of misfortune during the last few years, appears to have suffered least on this occasion.

Of the other islands. Aitutaki. Atiu and Mauke reported only slight damage to native dwellings and administration buildings, but general destruction of food crops and damage to orange crops.

The low-lying island of Mitiaro was badly hit, reporting a 60 per cent, loss of crops. Palmerston atoll also suffered loss of food-crops.

High seas and heavy intermittent rains continued for some days, the low-lying areas of Rarotonga remaining deeply flooded. The “Maui Pomare” arrived at Rarotonga on the 17th, but was not able to discharge her cargo until three davs later. As soon as she was cleared she made a run round the outer islands to deliver supplies of staple foods.