SEVERE GALE IN SUVA

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 78, 31 March 1908, Page 4

SEVERE GALE IN SUVA

A severe gale raged in Suva on Mon day evening, March 23, causing co _ siderable damage. ." *

There was a strong wind blowi__ w the _!__-all day, with heavy ram 4ua_l accompanied by a falling barometer About six p.m. it hauled round to tlu north, and the gale commenced in earnest. It gradually worked round i_ the westward, and it was from this guar ter that the worst of the gale wasfelt and the damage caused. At 8 o .lock in) glass read 29.35, and then gradual.-, rose. At about 10 o'clock the gale hhl , itself out witE an exceptionally heavy ' squall. Then it ceased almost entirely and the barometer rose rapidly. x___af day morning was bright and clear and the danger was pasty The shipping in the harbour suffered very severely. The steamer _W o il 9476 tons, was lying at anchor with n« steam up. She dragged her anchors" an_ went ashore about 8 o'clock on the j™. off Wa_u Bay. She was towed off tab morning by the Government steam__ Ranadi. The steamer Tahme aJah__ had her lines fast, but did. not __<™_r_ to use them. r. The R.M.S. Marama and the steamer Talune were moored to the wharf __. decking of which was started in n_M T places. The steamers, however, afforded an e__.l_.nt breakwater for the smaller craft. The steamer Clyde was blown -m th, Tamavua, and the coal hulk went ashort opposite the cable wharf. Corbet. Bros.' oil launch and Mr. Bradnam's oil brand.' were lying near the wharf-, and Tvere ' Smashed up and sang alonteide tha wharf. Several other launches, cutters,-_n,J small -hoats were driven ashore Or'smJs with more or less damage. The Government steamer Ranadi rod*, it out at anchor. Ashore the principal damagewas: rpfo balcony of the Pier Hotel, in Thomson, street, "blown away; balcony of Marrinon's huilSings, in "victoria Parade, and verandah of Collie's shop blown down. Many buildings lost their windows and had minor damages. The shade trees along the Parade ars spoilt. lully 20 per cent axe uprooted, and the balance are all more or lesi destroyed, huge limbs beingnnsEinghoir most of them. Needless to -say, rprivafc gardens suffered. The banana plantations in the district have gone under. Mr. H. |A. Treacy, of' Nasimu, is again a-loser. The Gros Michel -variety is -entirely-destroyed,- and about 30 per cent of the Chinas. He estk mates his loss at over £1000. The plan* tations on the Tamavua are also nearly swept out of existence. The Gros Miche! are nearly all down, -and' about 50 pej cent of the Chinas. Other, plantation. have also met with the' same fata Nanruka Island was swept clean by tk gale. _ # --■ ■■■■> - ■ :. J . The island of Namnka was.serious!? damaged by the gale. Houses and banan. trees -were levelled.