THE RECENT GALES IN FIJI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 805, 30 April 1910, Page 13

THE RECENT GALES IN FIJI.

BANANA TRAM! SERIOUSLY/ /AFFECTED. . (Br Telceraoh.-Special Correspondent.! Auckland, April 29. The recent gales in Fiji have seriously affected the banana trade. A .soiuor oir the island of Avulau, in a lulte.r-io.nr. A. Toomau, of. Auckland,' states that bananas from their part of the district will bo a thing of the past tor at loasi; six or eight months. There is .not a tree loft standing, with the exception of a few suckers, which will not be in fruit for about four months, and the btfncbt'c! obtained from these will bo of inferi'.'r quality. Planters, of cane, says liio writer, who had a large standover crop last year, havei suffered liauly and -v. ill lose at least 75' per cent. »i their produce,- while in one case he ostiro.'.ces a settler's losses at nearly £GOOO in . bananas and cane. In the Rowa district he estimates the damage done at between £50,000 and £60,000. Writing from Suva, - another correspondent says it will take Fiji years of prosperity to make good tho damage dono. The planters got a terrible sotback, and their plantations are as flat now as when they wore first started. It is wondorful to see how the people are tackling tho situation and keeping cheerful all the time.