THE CYCLONE AT NOUMEA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 80, 6 April 1910, Page 7

THE CYCLONE AT NOUMEA.

DETAILS TO HAND. MANY VESSELS SUNK. By Triegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. SYDNEY, sth April. Details of the cyclone on Easter Sunday night at Noumea (canital of New Caledonia) state that a high wind drove huge waves over the quay, and the veseels anchored by it, chiefly consisting of small ketches, fishing boats, and punts, many of which were sunk at their moorThe coasting steamer Cagou (110 tons) was capsized. The ship Guethary (2178 tons) broke away, and received considerable damage, colliding with the steamer Ville de la Ciotat 16378 tons). The cyclone reached its height at midnight. The town in the morning presented a pitiable eight. The streets were strewn with debris, many houcci wero unroofed, some were blown down, and gardens were obliterated. A magnificent avenue of trees surrounding tho Place dea Cocotien was , completely destroyed. The harbour was covered with wreckage, and the huge concrete block* of the quay were displaced for a- distanco of t ono hundred yard*. The gasworks wero severely damaged, and the town was gasless for ccvcral days. The railway at Montreal was torn up, causing a complete block of traffic, and Uie canal which brings water to Noumea burst, causing people- to bo dependent on private supplies. All the telegraph and telephone wires were down at Ansovate, a suburb of Noumea, and the road skirting the beach was washed away. A rubber plantation was blown down, and the sra at places cainu forty yards inland, leaving Dehind vast quantities of pumice fctone. Noumea was apparently the centre of the storm. Reports from other districts state that little damage was done. No loss of life is reported.