DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE AT RAROTONGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8987, 27 February 1888, Page 6 (Supplement)

DESTRUCTIVE HURRICANE AT RAROTONGA.

ESTIMATED DAMAGES, £25,000. By the arrival of the steametr Riohmond from the Islands on February 17 news was brought to Auckland of great "damage done at Rarotonga by a furious hurricane which raged in that group, from tha 22nd till the 25th January, during which Messrs. Donald and Edenborough had the misfortune to lose their trading schooner Atlantic, which was blown on a reef and destroyed. On tho island of Rarotonga itself tho destruction was very extensive, whole groves of oocoanut and orange trees being stiripped and uprooted, while between 70 and 80 houses were blown down or otherwise damaged, the taller structures suffering the most). Indications of an approaching storm were given a couple of days beforehand by atmospheric premonitions, and the natives took measures ho save life, and prevent the destruction of their dwellings by lashing them firmly down and otherwise protecting them. No such effectual measures could be taken with the larger and tailor European buildings, and these felt the full fury of the gale. The ohurcah at Natangia, which was but recently erected, had its roof torn bodily off and blown away. The damage is estimated at about 3000 dollars. The residence of Rev. Mil Hutchins, the missionary, also suffered severely, and will require almost complete rebuilding. Throughout the island, more particularly in the western half, over which tho greatest force of the hurricane seems to have passed, tho whole season's crops are destroyed, and the place bears the appearance of chaotic desolation. It is estimated that it will take a full year before the damage done'can be repaired, and the amount of loss sustained is variously set down at figures ranging from £25,000 to £30,000. The principal sufferers by the storm are mostly the natives, whose cultivations have boon rucined, although many European traders ar& also heavy losers. It is considered that the damage to the coffee crop alone will amount to about £3000, whilo the loss in cotton is surmised to bo more than treble that sum, while big figures are also put down for the cocoanut, orange, and banana cx.vps that have been swept away. The residents of the main island were, at the time of the departure of the Richmond, anxiously awaiting reports from the other islands of the group, and it is expected that when these come in the amount of loss will be swelled. It is said tZiat, within the last eighteen or twenty year®, no storm of such violence has visited tha group. At Tonga no effects of the hurricane were felt, and the Richmond had fair weather at sea. The ono pause of congratulation, amid so much destruction, is that no lost human life occurred during the stc&'in.

THE WRECK OF THE ATLANTIC. By the Richmond,' Captain Thomas Harris, of the Auckland schooner Atlantic, was a passenger, and ga.ve full details of the loss of his vessel ?.,t Rarotonga on the 24th January, during a terrific hurricane. The Atlantic had arrived at Rarotonga on January 20, from a trading cruise in the Hervey Group, with a part cargo of cotton and 2000 dollars of trade stuffs, and was moored in the harbour. Tho master intended to go to sea on the 22nd Jan., but was unable to get ready, and an the morn bit; of that day the wind veered from the S.E. to the N.E. by E., which effectually prevented him from clearing the harbour. The wind began to increase in strength, although the barometers, both on shore and on the s.s. Richmond, which called on the 113 rd, gave no indication of bad weather. On Tuesday, the 24th January, the wind went round to tho northward, and it blew a regular gale, and the glass went down rapidly, snowing 29deg 30m. Captain Harries had taken all precautions for the safety of his vesisel, having five strong mooring chains on her. The sea rose to such an extent that, at 11 a.m., the master did not think it s;*fe to remain on board, and put off for the fihoro, which he reached with his crew with groat difficulty. The residents on shore state that he would have been unable to land had he delayed his departure for half-an-hour longer. The schooner held safely till about 3 o clock,and hopes were entertained that she would ride out the storm, but at that hour her port quarter chain was seen to part, and almost immediately the stern hawser also» gave way. About an hour later the starboard bow chain, which for greater security Uad been fastened to the mast, also snapped, leaving the vessel riding by the starboard quarter chain (on the lee side) and the port bow chain. These held the schooner till about dusk when the former mooring went, and the bow chain quickly followed. In the dark the vessel could just bo discerned drifting about the harbour at tho mercy of the sea and wind, which had veored to the N.W., and about 9 o'clock sho was driven with great force on the eastern reef of the harbour where she held fast. When morning dawned a survey of the Atlantic wag made by Mr. Thomas Short, by tho direction of Mr, Exham, the British Consul, and it was found that she was so badly damaged as to bo past repair. By Captain Harriss' wish tlue broken hull was then sold by auction, and was knocked down to Mr. H. Nicholas for 50 dollars. A large quantity of goods which were on board, consisting of prints, biscuits, sugar, flour, rice. &c.', , was completely lost, although a small portion badly damaged by saltwater was recovered. This was also sold, realising 183 dollars.

The Atlantic was the property of Messrs. Donald and Edenborough, and was a wooden vessel of GO tons. During the great gale some three years ago, in which the Agnes 801 l and Makfca Ariki were lost, she was driven ashore and sustained severe damage, but was brought to Auckland and repaired. Her owners had her hull insured for £400, and the cargo was covered for £200, the United office holding both risks. The loss sustained by Messrs. Donald and Edenborough by her destruction will, however, be far from covered by these amounts.