RECENT GALE AT FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17140, 21 April 1919, Page 6

RECENT GALE AT FIJI.

DAMAGE TO COCOANUTS.

VESSELS DRIVEN ASHORE.

FIVE MEN ON MISSING CUTTER. Details of the severe storm at Fiji on March 28 last come to hand by mail lasb evening. The island of Kanacea suffered a considerable amount of damage. CocoaMilt trees in some of the gullies were wiped out, and 611 the hill where the trees were bearing heavily they have suffered severely. Tho crop that would have fallen about the end of June and July is all down, and tho nuta are too young to make up for copra. The cutter Turagabeci was totally wrecked at Moala. This vessel had % narrow escape from being Wrecked last/ year during neavy weather, when she was driven right into the mouth of Totogo Creek, smashing her bowsprit and doing slight damage to the bridge. She wa3 recently repaired and refloated, only to come to grief in the recent storm. The auxiliary cutter Tui Valavala dragged her anchors and went ashore at Tunuloa, Kumbiilau, and sustained damago to her hull. Tho cutter Kataogo, a vessel of some 12 tons and owned by the Buli of Moala, drifted from Waiiiyabia, Lakeba, with four of a crew and a native captain on board. This vessel has not been heard of since. Lakeba has not suffered very badly by the storm. At Levulta the usual warning gun was fired by the harbourmaster at 4 p.m., but here the gale had abated by 9 p.m. Reports from other districts had not been received when the mail left.