THE STORM IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19236, 27 January 1926, Page 13

THE STORM IN SAMOA.

MEMORABLE VISITATION.

REVIEW OF THE DAMAGE. "MIGHT HAVE BEEN WORSE." LADY ROBERTS ON REEF. [FSOU OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] APIA. Jan. 15. Samoa is not likely to forget New Year's Day, 1926, because of the sudden storm which caused so much damage. For a couple of weeks before the end of the year, the weather had been very wet, and tho barometer showed a falling tendency. On December 31 a strong easterly wind was blowing with a tendency to get round to the south. The four-masted schooner Annie M. Campbell was towed out of the harbour by tho Lady Roberts, and the sailing-ship was well away before an hour had passed. The Lady Roberts came back to her anchorage and banked fires, preparatory to making her usual Pago Pago trip on the Sunday. That trip did not take place. A fierce gale from east-south-east swept over Upoln and across Apia, causing the Lady Roberts to drag her anchor and pile up on the inner reef. Nelson and Company's fine launch Siliafai was wrecked on Watson's Island, just inside the outer reef. The gale, although not amounting to a hurricane, was decidedly heavy, and the fierce squalls which came every now and then caused many an anxious moment both on sea and land. Sudden Renewal of Gale. Trees same down everywhere, and it is no exaggeration to say that all roads were blocked by falling trees. Telephone communication went by the board in 110 time, and the staff attached to the telegraph office have work ahead of them for many weeks. During tho blow heavy driving rain came, which at times blotted out everything, especially 011 the waterfront.

The cocoanut trees did not escape, and very many palms, mostly old ones, came down in the squalls. Toward mid-day the wind slackened, and everyone hoped that was the finish, but more suddenly than before, the gale came back from the south-west with increased intensity. This is when the great damage came to the plantations. Most things seemed, to have weathered the elements pretty well until thei)j but the southwester found the weak spots everywhere. Fales crashed down or were lifted off the heads of the dwellers. Here and there roofing iron went sailing off toward the reef. Word from American Samoa later on showed that the gale rushed up the harbour inlet at Pago Pago with terrific force, unroofing part of the customs, part of the officers' quarters, and even taking a, section of the roof from the Governor's house. This section was picked up by the wind in remarkable fashion, carried high into the air and, like an aeroplane, sailed away over the hills completely but of sight. Not so Severe in Some Parts. The storm apparently blew in a cyclonic way, so that some parts of Samoa got it worse than others. Even round Apia one could notice a squall a hundred yards off sweeping down some valley with intense force, while the watcher remained in comparative calm. Then whilo Upolu seems to have got it fairly generally, only the east coast of Savaii bore the full brunt of the stornr. Palauli Salailua-and the south coast have not reported much damage, and from the north coast word comes of a hard blow . only. The eastern district was not ■ nearly so fortunate. Cocoa planters had the worst spin of all. Shade trees came down in scores, bringing down dozens and dozens of cocoa trees, and leaving the other trees fully exposed to the blasts of the storm. The good crop coming on for April will get a bad setback. Western Samoa Estates, Limited, got the full force of the galo at the Faleauniu plantation, which, viewed from the wireless mast, looks completely flattened out. ' Other parts of the company's property were knocked about, but not so heavily. Rubber trees came down in many places. The Cocoanut Plantations. Mr. A. R. Cobcroft, at Vaipoto, is a heavy losor, but his neighbour, Mr. Brighouse, came' off better. None of the cocoa, men came off well; some just got it more lightly than others. Of the cocoanut plantations, Vailele seemed to have suffered more severely than the others. Very many trees came down, but the number will not impair the output of the plantation to a marked extent. Probably with the cocoanuts the greatest damage is that done to the flowers, which the strong wind would break open ahead of time, and so affect the crop during the next six months. Inquiries from Mr. Watson, engineer-in-charge of public works, elicited the fact that he considers his department got off pretty well, and the loss will not be nearly as bad as was anticipated. Ihe Yaisigano Bridge showed one girder in a droopy condition, with a decided sag near the centre of the bridge. This has already been fixed. Tiie high galvanised fence at the Vaimea gaol was beaten almost to the ground with the south-east gale in the morning, but in the afternoon, the south-west wind picked up the fence, and flattened it out most effectively on the other side. Huge trees came across the roads in many places, and Mr. Watson had his staff on the job right away, so that before the next day dawned all the roads around the town were open for traffic. Natives' Loss in Bananas. The wireless station did not suffer to any extent, and all public buildings ■ seemed to escape harm. Visitors to Vailima will miss some of the beautiful trees that were in the grounds, otherwise the place was not touched. > The greatest loss to the natives will bo in bananas. Where these plants were exposed they came down in acres, and the price of the fruit has already gone up double. Natives and whites will notice the shortage in the crop for some months to come. A trip down the coast to Muhfanua on Sunday did not disclose a great deal of damage. One would have expected the bread-fruit trees at Leauvaa to be all down because round Apia this tree was badly treated. Leauvaa and its wonderful avenue of breadfruits stood the shock of the storm, which seems to indicate that these trees should be planted in quantities side by side. A single breadfruit tree in a malae had no chance at all, The Niue village at Apia lost most of its trees. After the tour of inspection onp must say that we got off pretty well. Things could have been a great deal worse, and as they stand now they are not nearly as bad as one would picture with fallen trees, branches and leaves scattered everywhere. The debris about the place makes it look worse than it really is. The storm was of an on usual character in-that it came

from an unexpected quarter. * Old residents assert they have never experienced this kind of a blow before, and the people at the observatory 011 Mulinuu confirm this.

Some loss of life occurred from falling trees, but details are not to hand. Thfl number is reported as thiree. Late advice states tliat a considerable amount of damage was done at the Solaua rubber plantation. It is estimated that the lower part of the plantation is pretty well devastated, and many acres of rubber trees are down. The top half of Solaua is untouched, so there are still left about 500 acres of good rubber trees. The gale came over the low pass at the back and dropped the trees in a lino lying in the direction of the south-east gale. In the afternoon the wind blew through another pass on the south-west, and another line of trees came down in that direction. The homestead and buildings were not damaged It is just as well for some people that the lease of Solaua had not been taken up. The Government will now advertise a considerably less area than it. anticipated. Captain Willocks was successful in floating off the Lady Roberts from the reef yesterday. The extent of the damage is not yet known, but it is hoped it is not so serious as was thought. One or two small holes were made in the hull, but these have been patched, and the vessel is making only a little water now. The harbourmaster thinks he can fix this satisfactorily, and it may be said that there will be no occasion to send the vessel to the dock in Fiji. The propeller and shaft have been damaged, which will necessitate spare parts coming from New Zealand. It. is hoped the Lady Roberts will be seen in commission before very long, as she has proved a most valuable ship for Samoa. Her service has been so good that we can ill afford-to be without her. The stranding of the Lady Roberts and Siliafai was the subject of an inquiry before the Chief Judge and Captain Winterstcin. Considerable evidence was taken, much of it being of a conflicting nature. The Court has not yet made its finding. Mr. McCarthy appeared for the Administration. The Siliafai was successfully taken off Watson's Island and she is now at Mulinuu for repairs. It is understood the launch can bo patched up, but the cost will bo fairly heavy. It transpired at the inquiry that the Lady Roberts dragged her moorings, and later broke the heavy mooring cable as she was lifted up on to the reef by the heavy seas which came in from the north-east. Amusing happenings take place even in a disastrous gale. Three Chinese, quite .oblivious to the storm, gambled away in a small old Sanumn fale. Tho blinds were down on the windy side, so why'should thev worry? Suddenly a heavy gust blew* tho place on top of their heads, and one heathen Chinee found his head poking through tho thatch and his two mates were nowhere to be seen. Another Samoa» woke to find the rain pouring in, and, looking.up, found that his house was not there. lie stirred the other sleepers, who broke for shelter to ;i nearbv fale. Another fale with t galvanised iron roof dropped fiat, to tho ground to imprison those underneath. No harm was done, but considerable force had to be used before tho inmates could get. out.