ISLAND HURRICANE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15517, 27 January 1914, Page 8

ISLAND HURRICANE.

DAMAGE AT MAKATEA.

WHARF SWEPT AWAY.

PHOSPHATE WORKERS' PLIGHT.

News of an exceptionally strong hurricane that almost devastated the small French island of Makatea, situated in the Eastern Pacific, about 125 miles distant from Tahiti, was brought to Auckland by the cargo steamer Detmold, which arrived unexpectedly yesterday morning. The island of Makatea is a huge atoll, some five miles long and three and a-half miles in width, and possessing little or no vegetation. Its inhabitants consist of about 120 native labourers, who are engaged in working the phosphate deposits. A few white men are in charge as working foremen.

The island is smbiect to sudden and violent cyclones, and for this reason the Detmold, on her arrival there from Australia on December 30, carried a full head of steam. This precaution was most fortunate, for on Sunday, January 4, a terrific cyclone struck the island with great force, and the captain of the Detmold immediately put to sea. A tremendous sea was running, and the steamer was hove-to for the following eight days. The hurricane reached its height on the seventh day, and about mid-day a tidal wave appeared to sweep in from the ocean and strike the island. The Detmold was in light trim, and she was tossed about like a cork, and tho officers and crew experienced a most trying time.

The cyclone abated on January 11, and the steamer put back to the island. It was immediately seen that the inhabitants had experienced a very rough time during the progress of the storm. The long wooden pier, on the north-west side of the island, built of heavy piles to withstand the ocean swell, was demolished from the point where it entered the surf for a distance of about 180 ft into the sea. A crane, which was used for loading the phosphates into ships, and two large rowing ooats, which were kept at the end of the wharf, had disappeared. The island also presented a very devastated appearance, the j V t quarters having been demolished and the remains of their huts strewn about the island, As far as could be ascertained by Captain Winter and his officers, there had been no loss of life. As it was practically impossible to attempt to load cargo, the captain decided to proceed to Auckland to communicate with the owners in London, and the steamer left Makatea on January 12 A call was made en route at Papeete, where the news was communicated to the authorities, so that in all probability relief for the natives at Makatea will be sent from there.

There is a regular trade between Makatea Island and Australian ports with phosphates, and occasionally the steamers make a call at Auckland, while en route, for bunker coal. The delay caused by the hurricane in getting the! shipment of phosphates to Australia will probably result in a heavy loss to the French Phosphate Company of Oceana. The captain of the Detmold communicated with the owners at London immediately on arrival as to the vessel s future movements. A reply is expected today, and-in the meantime the vessel remains at an anchorage in the