HURRICANE SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21398, 24 January 1933, Page 14

HURRICANE SEASON

TENSION IN ISLANDS NIAGARA IN BIG "BLOW" [FIIOM OUR OWN COIIRESPONDENT] SUVA,'.Tan. 17 With tlio hurrican season,, which officials extends from November 1 until April 1, now "on," the usual slate of tension becomes apparent when the "glass" drops to low readings. Last Tuesday the glass dropped very low, and with the report that a hurricano was 200 miles off Vila and travelling south-cast, some anxiety was felt locally. Tlio meteorological oHico reported that tho hurricano would probably pass to the south of Fiji, and this proved to be tho case. As a precautionary Measure, however, most of tho small craft in Suva Harbour took shelter in Walu Bay,' while cutters and larger craft mado across tho bay to the shelter which is prided there by a littlo bay protected by two islands. The value of tho radio weather reports was again in evidence during this period. The Niagara was on her way from Auckland to Suva and tho Waihemo was also on the way to Suva fpm Newcastle. With these two vessels coming up on both sides it was possiblo for tho local office to locate tho ccntro of tho hurricane and to issue a notice that the storm had curved to the south-west and had passed between Norfolk Island and the Kermadecs, eventually continuing on past Capo Maria Van Diemen.

Both the Niagara and tho Waihemo struck part of the blow, both reporting heavy winds and seas. Conditions proved rather too rough for many of the passengers, who were pleased to see tho calm waters of Suva Harbour, where tho liner arrived at three o'clock in tho afternoon instead of the usual hour of nino in tho morning.