HURRICANE DAMAGE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29469, 22 March 1961, Page 10

HURRICANE DAMAGE

Radio Account Of Disaster (N.Z Press Association> AUCKLAND, March 20. Listeners in New Zealand picked up the first news of the hurricane devastation in the Tonga group from the new 10-kilowatt radio station which began broadcasting from Nukualofa on 1020 kilocycles last week. The radio said tonight that 75 per cent of the buildings in Vavau had been demolished or damaged. Included were Government buildings and the Post Office. Customs sheds and goods were floating in the harbour. The premises of two large Pacific trading companies, Burns Philp (South Sea) Company, Ltd., and Morris. Hedstrom Ltd., had suffered. Damage had also been done to the Roman Catholic and Wesley churches at Vavau. Part of the roof of the western wing of the new Government hospital had been carried away and mattresses, surgical equipment and debris were scattered over a wide area. Captain D. McCallum, master of the Tongan Government’s auxiliary ketch Hifofua, described the hurricane as a “36-hour living nightmare.” Neiafu. 200 miles northeast of Nukualofa, presented a “mateh-like” scene according to the radio. Coconut trees were stripped. Health Institute Examination (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 20. The National Health Institute tonight announced that the following candidates from the first group to sit final examinations for the certificate of proficiency in hospital laboratory practice were successful:— J. L. Allen, Mrs F. Narev, Miss K. M. Scholium, and C. W. Small (Auckland); Misses T. J. Behrens. M. M. Black, L. A. Mortleman, M. B. Scully, and V. E. Wilson (Wellington); Miss M. A. Butcher (Dunedin); Miss A. E. Ford (Invercargill); Miss H. J. Rawson (Christchurch); and Miss A. L. Turner (Hamilton).