HEAVY STORD

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 35, 11 February 1935, Page 9

HEAVY STORD

DAMAGE IN COOK ISLANDS The Post and Telegraph Department received advice from the master of the motor vessel Rangitiki that communication had been received from the Seth Parker, in latitude 12.51 S., 159.36 W., to the effect that the schooner was encountering gales and heavy seas. Her course is S.S.E., and it was believed that the conditions were dangerous. The master of the Rangitiki asked all ships within 500 miles to make contact with him immediately, giving their weather conditions, barometers, course, and destination. A Variation of the foregoing message, also from,the Post and Telegraph Department, received via the Tinakori Hills radio station; is that the Seth Parker wirelessed: "Believe conditions dangerous. Desire all ships within 500 miles to'make contact with us immediately, giving their weather conditions, barometers, course, and destination. (Signed): Phillips Lord, master." Widespread damage by a heavy storm is. reported from the Cook Islands and Rarotonga.' 'On Saturday the Pririie Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) received from; the' Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga, the following telegram:— "The lower ; group is experiencing an easterly storm. -Aitutaki has suffered damage to oranges, domestic crops, and property;. Mauke great damage to oranges; and Rarqtonga damage to all crops. Mangaia has had no storm. The; barometer shows a light rise." The' Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department has received •the^following advice, from the superintendent-of the radib station at Rarotonga:—"Aitutaki reports that the storm is,slowly, abating.'The.barometer is rising slowly .to 29.34 in, with a heavy westerly wind. 'There is 'enormous damagai to crops and a number of buildings are unroofed and smashed. Mauke reports that-, the wind has changed south-east to north-east, with high seas. Great dariiage has been done to crops. On Rarotonga the damage has not yet been, estimated, but it will be heavy to' the crops. Very high seas are 'running."

The Post and Telegraph Department received advice from the master of the motor vessel Rangitiki that communication had been received from the Seth Parker, in latitude 12.51 S., 159.36 W., to the effect that the schooner was encountering gales and heavy seas. Her course is S.S.E., and it was believed that the conditions were dangerous.

The master of ttie Rangitiki asked all ships within 500 miles to make contact with him immediately, giving their weather conditions, barometers, course, and destination.