HURRICANE IN FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 10

HURRICANE IN FIJI.

ANGLICAN MISSION SUFFERS. FLOOD ADDS TO DESTRUCTION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. An account of the damage wrought by the recent hurricane in Fiji was given by Archdeacon W. J. Hands, vicar of Suva and Archdeacon of Fiji, to-day. Tho hurricane lasted for two days and for 16 hours it blew at the rate of 120 miles an hour, devastating the whole countryside. At Lambasa, on tho island of Vanualevu, which is tho centre of tho Colonial Sugar Refinery Company's operations and where the headquarters of the Church of England Indian Mission is situated, tho wind was accompanied by heavy rain. Tho rivor rose rapidly, flooding all tho surrounding flat lands to a depth of 7ft. The mission school and tho dispensary were laid flat by tho wind and the timbers carried away by tho rushing waters. Nothing remained except the concrete floor of tho dispensary and a few piles. A piece of timber lifted by. the wind killed a cow. All the houses are. to be rebuilt, 20 men having gone from New Zealand to do that work. Tho damage to the Church of England Mission property is estimated at between £2OOO and £3OOO. An appeal will be made by the Board of Missions for tho repairing of the damage.