Hailstorm in Fiji

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 4

Hailstorm in Fiji

NATIVES IN A PANIC 1 SUVA, July 21. * An unusual occurrence in Fiji was a heavy hailstorm which occurred on the Sova-Sigatoka road on Monday. A very heavy storm accompanied by loud peals of thunder and vivid flashes of . lightning broke over a wide area during 1 the afternoon, and at various points along the road hail fell at Navua, 30.' miles from Suva, and to within flvo I miles of here. It is reported that the hail at times was more like largo pieces of ice, some of the stoues being rough and jagged. The natives, most of whom had never {

seen hail before, were terrified, and hurriedly rushed for whatever shelter was available. They stated that some tevora (devil) was very angry about something and was throwing stones at them. The owner of a plantation on the island of Namuka, five miles from Suva, stated that even the fowls were mystified by the hail, and when tho first small stones fell they began to peck at them, apparently under the impression that they were rice. Hail is very rare in Fiji. One resident of long standing states that he remembered a hailstorm 40 years ago but had never seen it since. I