HURRICANE AT THE ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8999, 12 March 1888, Page 5

HURRICANE AT THE ISLANDS.

By the arrival of the steamer Southern Cross from Fiji, news is to hand of a severe gale having been experienced at Taviuni and its vicinity on Thursday, 10th ult. The gale was most severely felt at the principal native town of Somo Somo, situated at Taviuni. Over 50 native houses are reported as having been destroyed, but no fatalities arc recorded. The Queenie, a cutter belonging to tho Taviuni Sugar Company, was wrecked near Somo Somo. The Roko Tui's house escaped with a severe shaking. At Vuna, while matters were somewhat disturbed, no damage of any importance is reported. At Quila, an old wooden house was blown down, but the Alpha tea estate was affected but very little. Mate, the plantation of Mr. Peckham, suffered somewhat more than its neighbours. The northern portion of Taviuni also experienced the full force of the gale. At Kumbuloa Point, a native-built house occupied by Mr. D. Elder, and another building in the vicinity, constructed in a similar manner, and occupied by Mr. Bullin, were destroyed. The houses in a nativo town in the same neighbourhood are reported to have been entirely blown away, but no casualties took place. The island of Rabi did not escape entirely ; a large house having been demolished which had been used for the stowage of fibre. From Mago we learn that tho sugar-mill was not injured, although several of the smaller labour houses were blown down, and the cane knocked over. The foliage and trees also suffered considerably. The mill was about to start crushing the fallen cane when the Taupo left and thus minimise the loss as much as possible. The effect of this gale will be to delay the crushing season, which should commence about June, but will now hardly do so before September. The schooner Eastward Ho ! sought shelter in some bay at Loma Loma, and thus was free from danger.