NEW GUINEA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 6, 9 January 1899, Page 2

NEW GUINEA.

A TERRIFIC CYCLONE

TWELVE BOATS LOST

SAMARAI, December 14. We have been visited by the heaviest cyclone that has occurred in the memory of the oldest native of this part of New Guinea, It commenced to blow from the S.E. on Friday, December ?, and continued until five a.m. on Sunday, December 4. The shipping in the roadsted rode it out very well with two anchors down. On Sunday morning the gale was terrific, cocoa palms going down before it wholesale, and the large Fiji almoud trees (Terminalia catappa) being twisted like corkscrews, and their limbs carried out to sea. The wind veered to the eastward and northward, blowing with almost hurricane force from the north-west for an hour. On Sunday torrents of rain fell, and Monday was a calm, steamy day. Several buildings had very narrow escapes from the falling cocoa palms, one cottage having no less than seven almost touching its walls. The only damage it sustained was a broken kitchen chimney. The island was strewed with debris, and things were generally as miserable as they could well be, and no roof ever built could keep out the rain under such wind force, and everything was soaked. Grave fears were entertained for the safety of the many small craft which were out trading in every direction, but of course nothing- could be learnt for some time. On Tuesday, December fi, the glass was falling steadily all the forenoon, a sure indication of wind from the north, and at two o'clock p.m. it came on suddenly. The shipping were in a bad way for some time, dragging their anchors up the strait, but eventually the various boats held, and no casualties occurred. At four p.m. the ketch Jessie Riley arrived from Cooktown, having experienced the full force of Saturday's gale. Towards four a.m. on Wednesday the gale blew itself out, Tidings of disaster have been*coming in steadily ever since. The cutter Mayflower was thrown on a reef near Basilaki, on Friday, and became a total wreck. The cutter Nabua, or Pearl, was lost at East Cape, with a full cargo of copra, 7 tons. The two new yawls or ketches, built in Sydney for the New Guinea Development Syndicate, the Bebem and Baidon, are lost. The Bebem is reported to have capsized off Goodenough Island, Mr Kennedy, the Syndicate's manager, and his crew being drowned, only One small boy reaching the shore. The Baidon is reported ashore near Taupota, badly damaged. Mr N. Cadigan's shelling boat is a complete wreck in the same locality. The Anglican Mission ketch, Albert MacLaren, is ashore near Wedan, and badly damaged. At the Mambare the lugger Lysander, 14 tons, owned by George Parascos, was carried bodily ashore and smashed up. Everything in the vessel was saved. The Fleetwing, cutter, is also a total wreck in the same place. A passenger on board lost all his gold, which was in his swag in the hold —six months' work—there not being time to go below for it, Mr Nicolas Minster's new boat was also broken up on the beach there. The Polly, cutter, was in the bay, and rode out the gale in safety. The cutter Portia was totally wrecked on Eette Island, near Port- Glasgow, South Coast, diid to-day we have received news that the schooner Ellengowan and cutter Ivy, the property of Miss F. W. Walker and Captain Godet, were lost, at the Kossman Group on Tuesday week last. Captain Godet, Jackson, and one other man were ou board the schooner, the native crew and beche-de-mer collectorp were sleeping on shore. The natives state that the vessel was safe at dusk, but was gone at daylight, that the cable parted, as they can see the anchor on the bottom. The Ivy was blown bodily ashore, and went to pieces at once. This makes a list of 12 vessels lost, and means a very great deal to this end of the possession, as most of the owners are struggling men dependent on their craft for a living. Mr Kennedy was not a sailor. There is just a chance that he may yet turn up safe and sound. The Ellengowan may have made Normanby Island or some other anchorage, as Captain Godet is a thorough sailor, and knows the waters well. Fears are entertained for the safety of the Wana Wana, 56 tons, Captain W. Whitten. She would probably be at Kaduwaga in the Trobriauds when the gale was blowing, and there is only one good anchorage there. If at sea in those foul waters, the vessel would be in imminent danger. The news from Mambare is to the effect that very good gold is being obtained out Gira way, but there is much sickness. Fever and dysentery have killed five Europeans lately, and many native carriers have succumbed. A few miners who have come here to spend Christmas intend returning in January. Eighty-three carriers have deserted en bloc. Two boys stole Mr Whitten's launch, and she was only recovered at Cape Nelson by the police after shooting some natives who attacked them when they landed. It transpired that they had killed and eaten the two Dobu boys on their arrival. A large whaleboat has also been stolen, but nothing has, so far, been heard of her. The L.M.S. steamer John Williams arrived here on Monday last from Sydney. She has gone to Kalluton Island, where a picnic or annual gathering of the Church takes place. The donations to the mission fund are estimated to reach £30 to £40. At Woodlark there are several good claims in full work, and miners returning from Mambare unsuccessful in many instances go there.