LORD ELGIN AND AGENTSGENERAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 35, 9 February 1906, Page 5

LORD ELGIN AND AGENTSGENERAL.

LONDON, February 8. The representatives of the colonies in London are very pleased with the treatment they are receiving from the Secretary for the Colonies (Lord Elgin). The new Minister goes out of his way to show them favours. He obtained invitations for them to witness the launching of the new battleship Dreadnought on Saturday last by His Majesty the King. THE QUEENSLAND CYCLONE. (Received 10 a.m.) BRISBANE, this aay. The recent cyclonic disturbance in the Far North did enormous damage to the banana crops. The loss is estimated at 70 per cent. Some further particulars of Qeraldton (Queensland), which was swept by the cyclone mentioned in a previous cable are supplied by Mr F. M. Armstrong, formerly o f Devonport Mr. Armstrong, who is at present in Auckland, has for ten years past been in j business at Grraldton as agent for the ; A.U-SJST. Shipping Company and in other ways, and has considerable wharf- ; age and other interests in the town. In. :an interview this morning he stated that Geraldton is a place with about 1000 white people, 1500 Chinese, 500 Malays, and 200 other Asiatics. Its cliisf industries are the production of bananas and sugar cane. The sugar cane fields are among the principal ones of Queensland, but the crops had been recently jut, and the new growth, being only a I few feet high, would fortunately es-ape I serious damage from the cyclone. With j the bananas, however, the case wonM be very serious. The banana export amounted to an average of about 15 000 bunches a week for the whole year at a I value to the grower of 2/6 a bunch. The ' banana plantations are on flat country, about three miles inland from the coast, and the cyclone would probably get at them all. The buildings at Geraldton are mainly of wood. The place is the ; second wettest place in the world, ita ! rainfall ranging from 150 inches to the j exceptional and record amount of 242 inches. There had been no cyclone at ! Geraldton for IS years past. Mr. Armi strong is naturally anxious abont the safety of his. property, and flfl» cabled 1 fear SidtaxxDa&m,