NEWS FROM TONGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10099, 7 April 1896, Page 5

NEWS FROM TONGA.

[from ouk own correspondent.] Nukualofa, Tonga, March 28. A few days after the departure of the s.s. Ovalau from this port for Auckland on the 3rd instant we had a gale of wind here of unusual severity and duration. The gale lasted from the 7tli to the 9th. It caused oommotion amongst the ooooanut trees, but otherwise hardly affected them except in a beneficial way perhaps, for they got a thorough cleaniuii both''of rotten branohfca and superfluous nuts. The other fruit trees were, however, more or less affeoted, especially along the northern coast of the island, though inland the damage was trifling. Little damage was done to buildiugs, the chief sufferer being the German firm, which had a large timber shed blown down. Since the gale we have been favoured with magnificent weather, and the time for our wet season is getting very late, so much so that peoplo bogin to fancy there will not be any wet season. Business is vory good for this time of the year, and a considerable quantity of copra has been made, the export value of the article being still about £8 10s, f.o.b. Shipping oontiuuos quiet. The Norwegian barquentine Bien arrived here from Honolulu on the 17th inst. and sailed again on the 20th for Vavau to load copra, The barque Emerald remains here loading, but leaves for Haapai in a few days to fill up there. The only other items of importance aro the arrivals and departures of the regular steamers. Later. Advices from Vavau and Haapai by the Taviuni report those districts having experienced the gale of the 7th to oth inst. The hull of the West Australian ill Haapai, which had been floated, was driven ashore again, and remains. Her sister ill distress, the Wooaung, goes to your pott in tow of the Taviuni.