HURRICANE AT FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9078, 3 January 1893, Page 5

HURRICANE AT FIJI.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. By the Union S.S. Company's steamer Pohertlft, which arrived from Suva yesterday morning, particular* of the hurricane in the Fiji Group, reported by the Upolu last week, have come to hand. Advices from Rewa show that the effects of the recent gale have been very severely felt there At Viria fihe water rose to a height of forty feet, being 6ve feet higher than any previously. The water was in the mill to a depth of some nine feet, and the Indian Coolies had to be taken from tho roofs of those labour houses which are near the river, and conveyed by boats to a higher part of the plantations. The water ab the tunnel at the back of the estate rose to a height of 60 feet. There were only two houses that the water did not reach. The floor of the Wairaanu Hotel was covered to a depth of 3 feet) 6 inches and that of the building in which the sugar is stored ab Nausori, and which li raised about 3 feeb off the ground, was on » level with the water. The cane carrier in the Naueori Mill was stuffed up with grass. An Indian boy was drowned while proceeding from the overseers' quarters to the sbablas. Punts, some loaded, are ab the back of several of tho plantations and it will entail some expense to convey them to the river. At Naitasiri all tho buildings with the exception of the dwelling houses and coolie lines were blown down and as a matter of precaution the overseer had a cutter and boat anchored within a few feet of his house. Several punts and launches weut adrift but have since been recovered.

At Savusavu considerable damage was done to the breadfruit which was half ripe ab the time, and to native gardens, but beyond the loss of the young fruit the cocoa nubs have sustained little damage. Ab Naboualu, in Bua, the damage was not extensive. The ripe and very young cocoanuts were blown down, but half matured fruit did not fall. The damage dono to the native gardens did not seem to be severe, and the few houses that were unroofed were already in a ruinous state. The wind blew hardest on the afternoon of the lObh. As Naboualu is in an exposed situation it may be assumed that no part of Bua suffered much damage. The gale at Nasarusavu most severe nine hours before ib reached Suva, so that the storm must have been travelling about six miles an hour. THE STEAMER BIRKSGATE IN THE

GALE. The Sydney steamer Birksgate arrived at Suva on December 21. Captain Calder reports :—At midnight, on December 16, the wind, which had been fresh from the southeast during the day, freshened, the sky becamo threatening with masses of thick, black, overhanging clouds, a heavy swell rolling up from the S.E., and increasing: in volume towards morning ; the fore trysail being set to steady the ship. At noon on Saturday the wind increased to a moderate gale with frequent heavy squalls of rain and a rough sea. As there was every indication of bad weather, the hatches were securely fastened down, awnings furled, horses made snug, and all deck cargo lashed ; theskylights were battened down and deadlights put up. At 7 p.m. engines at half-speed. Some horses having fallen down, were eventually got on their feet again and secured as well as possible. At 8 p.m.. heavy sea with strong gale from the south, and squalls of rain, the barometer falling rapidly, and horses unable to stand up. Midnight : The wind at S.S. The foretrysail was blown away. Hove the ship to .on the starboard tack ; the gale very fierce with driving rain and mountainous sea ; barometer reading 2920 and falling. Sunday, the 18th, 4 a.m.: Barometer 2900; wind at S.S.W. Seas washing the decks fore and aft; deck cargo broken adrift from lashings, and horse* washed off their feet. 8 a.m.: The barometer 28 '80 ; a fierce hurricane blowing from the S.S. W. with heavy rain and a terrific sea; all the horse? down but one, and one washed overboard. Wheel-box torn off the deck, covers torn off boats and side houses, and other damage done ; sheep and poultry drowned, etc. At noon the barometer showed '28 "SO with the wind at S. W. ; hurricane unabated; sea mountainous and confused ; horses, all drowned but one. Sunday, 18th, mid- j night, the barometer reached its minimum, 28 - 75, and steady. The wind at S. W. and still undiminished in force, and ship still hove to. Monday, 19th, at noon, the barometer still reading 28 "75 ; the wind steady at S. W. and the hurricane raging with continued violence. At 8 p.m. the barometer showed 29 00 and rising, the wind still at S. W. blowiug in furious gusts with driving rain. Tuesday, 20th, at 4 turn., barometer 29'4-i and rising; clouds breaking, but gale still very fierce with heavy squalls. At 4.40 a.m. put the ship on the port tack and stood away to the N.W. 6 a.m., heavy rain with strong squalls, afterwards the clouds commenced to break, and at 7.15 the sun shone out beautiful and clear, the barometer rising to 29.65. 8 a.m., clear, with fresh wind and confused sea. Noon, fine weather. The hurricane blew heaviest between S.W. and W.S.W.

The Princess, cutter, belonging to Messrs. Potter, olf Lsvuka, and the Julia, cutter, owned by the Ra Provinco natives, were totally wrecked on, the coast noar Viti Levu Bay ; also, the ketch Emily Miller, owned by Mr. John Robertson, Kavua, met with the same fate at Kadavu. Casualties also of several other small craft have been reported.