SWEPT BY HURRICANE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17110, 15 March 1919, Page 10

SWEPT BY HURRICANE.

DAMAGE IN THE FIJI GROUP. LOSS IN NORTHERN ISLANDS. [BY telegraph..--own CORRESPONDENT.] SUVA, Maroh 7. The full force of the hurricane which swept over the group during the early morning of February 9 was experienced along the northern islands from east to west. Particulars have now been received of the damage in theso outlying islands. In the Yasawa group, lying north-west of Lautaka, the effects of the hurricane were disastrous. These islands have recently suffered severely by drought; then the influenza epidemic carried off 250 of the inhabitants, and now tho hurricane. At Tamasau, th» chief town of Yasawa, all the native houses but one, and also tie European store were wrecked. At the village of Nalttkißro only four houses were left. At Bukaura and Teci all the houses went down but one. On Yasawarara only four houses were left. On Nacula only four houses remained standing. Waya and Fiwa' suffered similarly. As a result of the damage, it is feared that the group of islands will not bo able to produce any copra for three years. There is at present a scarcity of food. On Vavua Lflvu, further east, the chief damage was done at Labasa, where half tho roof of H. Marks and Co.'e large store was blown off, some of the iron being carried over the river, and much damage was done by the heavy rain. A large section of the roof of the Colonial Sugar Company's mill was also blown away. The other islands suffered less. Suva and Levuka escaping with a gale, : although some of the R«wa banana growers lost many trees.