SERIOUS HURRICANE AT THE TONGA GROUP.
By the schooner Peerless, which arrived from Tonga on 12th Dec., we have news respecting one of those hurricanes which occasionally occur in the South Seas, and which cause such destruction that frequently years are required to repair the damage. The hurricane, so far as we have yet any intelligence, seems to have been most severely felt at Hiapia, one of the Tongese Group. The news was brought by the schooner to Hafiaiva, where the Peerless was lying, on November 30. It is stated that nearly all the cocoa-nut-trees on Hiapia were blown down, which will be a great calamity for the natives, and which will make copra very scarce for the next twelvemonths. We have not heard from a number of the islands, and in all probability the damage has not been confined to Hiapia.
A good deal of damage was done to the ships trading amongst the islands. The schooner Upolo was totally wrecked, and the schooner Geraldine and a cutter belonging to King George of Tonga were ashore, but would probably be got off. A large Russian ship was only saved by cutting away her masts. The Peerless had a very narrow escape at Hafiaiva, as she was only about 15 yards from a reef with the second anchor down. This hurricane is rather unfortunate, as several vessels have left here for Tonga, expecting to get cargoes of copra.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4398, 17 December 1875, Page 3
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238SERIOUS HURRICANE AT THE TONGA GROUP. New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4398, 17 December 1875, Page 3
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