Hurricane May Hit Tomorrow

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31905, 5 February 1969, Page 1

Hurricane May Hit Tomorrow

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 4.

The hurricane approaching the north of New Zealand may hit areas south of Auckland on Thursday morning, said a Weather Office senior spokesman in Auckland tonight.

The hurricane, which appeared to have lost a little of its strength, was centred 300 miles west-south-west of Norfolk Island at 9 p.m. to-

day and was moving slowly south, he said. It was difficult to predict the area where the hurricane would strike the New Zealand coast—if it did at all—but if there were no change from present trends, central North Island areas could be in the eye of the storm. Situation in Noumea Noumea continues almost completely without water, and there is still no electricity in some suburbs, after the hurricane lashed the city at midnight on Saturday. Housewives are travelling throughout the city with empty wine flasks to obtain water from persons with private tanks. , The authorities fear .the first of three broken dam pipes may not be repaired even by Thursday. The dam is 15 miles from Noumea. Meagre storage facilities in three Noumea reservoirs have beeen inadequate to supply the 40,000 population, which has now been without water for three days. Municipal authorities have promised that water trucks will pass through the city to meet urgent needs. Clearance of Debris The munipicality has launched an appeal for large trucks, and men, to clear the streets of debris, mainly metal roofing and big trees. State-controlled < television resumed operation last night with an emergency antenna replacing two others snapped in the storm. A news reader announced that citizens should be pleased to hear that fish in the world-famous Noumea Aquarium “now have water and electricity.” The Territorial Assembly was called into emergency session today to review the crisis.