Tonga's Banam

Crop Damaged

By Hurricane

Banana exports from Tc are expected to be set b several months as a result c hurricane which roared ac the Tonga Group in the first of March. The hurricane rooted numerous banana pa carrying mature fruit.

TT has been reported that 69 nat A houses were flattened and European-style houses were sevc damaged at Haafeva and Nomuki the Haapai Group, and at Niuat< tapu, in the Keppel Islands. T three islands took the full force the hurricane.

At Haafeva, the Free Wesh Church and the Church of Tc were also destroyed.

First news of dangerous wea reached Nukualofa late on Marc when it was learned that a hurrie was moving to the north of Niue towards the Keppel Islands in the north of the Tonga Group.

The hurricane continued on course during the next three d Twenty-five houses, a wharf and p tations were damaged in the Kepi but the only casualities were horses killed by a falling tree.

The hurricane then turned gn ally to the south-west, damaged s< crops in Vavau, and continued d< the west coast of Tonga. Its inter increased as it approached Haa and the MV Matua, which sa through it on March 13, recoi winds of up to 90 knots (see p. 1» At the same time as the hurric struck Haapai, Tongatapu, about miles south-west, experienced * high winds and torrential rain wl did considerable damage to banana crop, blew down trees disrupted power and telephone vices.

The Tongan Premier, Prince Tu left Nukualofa on March 15 in Government vessel Hifofua to as the situation in Haapai. The Hifo also carried medical and emerge supplies.

Meanwhile, the Government ; Aoniu took supplies to Niuatoputi which is about 150 miles north: Vavau.