WEST INDIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 3

WEST INDIES.

PLACE FOR HURRICANES.

ADDRESS BY NAVAL OFFICER,

Choosing the West Indies as his subject at a meeting of the Auckland Travel Club this morning, Commander B. Brooke, of the H.M.S. Philomel, delivered a bright and interesting talk, making special reference to the terrific hurricanes that often occur there. He said that on one occasion 38 hawsers had been adjusted to relieve a ship in distress, but in less than five minutes they had been completely blown away by the terrific force of the wind. Sometimes the hurricanes blew all day, with intermittent spells "of about an hour's duration.

"The West Indies have been responsible for the loss of round about 500,000 eailors and soldiers," said Commander Brooke, "and this is a big factor in the history of the country, which was once a valuable and prosperous country." He spoke also of several other interesting features of the West Indies and other countries he had visited in his naval duties. Miss Jean Begg, the national secretary of the Y.W.C.A., gave a short talk on her many experiences in foreign countries.

Both Commander Brooke arid Miss Begg were thanked on behalf of the gathering by the hostess, Lady Lockhart.