HURRICANE IN THE ISLANDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 23 February 1931, Page 4

HURRICANE IN THE ISLANDS

FRUIT CROPS RUINED FOOD SUPPLY ON AITUTAKI DEMOLISHED (By Telegraph—Press Association) WELLINGTON, 20th February. Confirmatory advice has been received by the Minister for the Cook Islands, Sir Apirana Ngata, from the Resident Commissioner at Rarotonga of the serious damage done in the Cook Islands by the recent hurricane. Aitutaki, which is situated 140 miles due north of Rarotonga, has suffered very severely. The banana crop has been entirely destroyed, the orange crop and coconut trees have suffered very heavily, and the breadfruit trees have sustained damage from which they will take years to recover. The Taro and Puraka sw’amps have also been flooded, and high seas have inundated the village of Amuri for half a mile inland.

The food supplies of' the island which is one of the most beautiful and fertile of the group, have been almost entirely demolished, and it is estimated that within ten days the people will be reduced to a fare of coconuts and fish, and the question of relief by way of flour and rice from New Zealand is receiving attention. Aitutaki has a population of 1500 Maoris, and the Resident Agent, the European district nurse and school teacher are stationed there.

Rarotonga itself has also sustained some damage. About. 40 per cent, of the banana crop and one-third of the orange crop have been lost. Otherwise little damage lias been done. In the absence of any communication with the northern group, which contains the islands of Penrhyn, Rakahanga, Pukapuka, Ma.nihiki, Nassau and Suwarrow, it is not known whether any damage has been sustained, but it is believed that from the direction of the hurricane they possibly have escaped. Palmerston Island in the southern group, which is the only other island of the Cook Group not connected by wireless, suffered havoc from a hurricane some years ago, and the food supplies have not -yet been fully reestablished.

Other islands of the lower group, Atiu, Mauke and Mangaia, report that though they experienced high seas and winds they suffered no damage. MS*'— i-