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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 54

The hurricane which swept over New Caledonia last month, driving several deep-sea vessels ashore , and playing havoc with the nickel company’s property, extended oyer xii-3 New -Hebrides Group and devastating the islands in its track. News by the- French mail steamer Ar-n-and Behic (says the Sjulney ‘DailyTelegraph'*’) is. to the effect that- the storm commenced on January 20tlx, and lasted right through the next- day. During that t-ime it blew with terrific fury, the squalls uprooting trees, destroying plantations and wrecking houses.? A correspondent at the group writes: -—‘•'The scene at the- various plantations is just one of utter devastation.” The total loss is estimated at 150,000 francs. Captain Gasfpard, who was. cruising off the northern part cf the group in the Mane Henry, fell in with the storm oil/ the 20th, and described it as one of frightful severity. One vessel was wrecked in the hurricane. The hulk Jeannet-te, owned by the French Company, was driven ashore at Port Vila. There was no loss of life. The- storm, destroyed a quantity of maize, which- was ready for shipmenu to Sydney. Trade generally has suffered by tlie storm, so much so indeed that a trader says four months must elapse before the islands can I'eopver themselves. Referring to the sending away of still further troops from. New Zealand, a prominent business man ny W eLlmgtoil writing to a friend in Christchurch, . ' gays :—“ The matter is getting very serious, especially to the small farmer, and those connected with dairying are •setting' into very . serious difficulties. . Tiiev have given enormous prices for land, and any increase in cost or decrease ox European markets, ana tney will be in great trouble.* This the same v r ith o-raih. The other day-X was. told by a farmer he had lost £SOO all in cocksfoot- gi'ass, because he could not- get labour “to cut it before it was spoiled. ' Then it is to be borne in mind that we ' have already sent away some 2500, ot our best working men. and yet i ew Zealand has not as big a' population asthe oitv cf Glasgow. Even if the men-, come back, it will be a, long time before they settle down to ordinary work; aicer .the excitement'of war. . - Mr Charles Ormond' Saunders; ! sixth son of Mr Joseph Saunders> of Wellington, was married - to ;Miss. Annie Tsaoet Stubbs, only daughter of Mr James • Stubbs, of Titoki,- Kairanga; at • tetPatrick’s Church, Palmorstony .Nortn, on The 27th instant, the Rey. Fg.t%i•Tymons officiating. The bride was dr.es-. 4d in white brocaded silk, trimmed with white'silk lace, chiffon and saGn, with veil UrM.wreath of orange. blos-p----so ms. She. wore a gold and carried a shower bouquet-, Qg gift 7 of the bridegroom. Miss bauneffi . (sister of the bridegroom) and An Me Stubbs (cousin of the Tuudqy The bridesmaids, wore .cream mIW ture hats to match, hjd the Jirmer wore a gold brooch and tlie latter : a gold band ring, gifts from_ Uo .WdcIroom. They were attended, b>, little girls (Misses Cox - cousins-of : ;the bride), daintily dressed in. white silk witli cliilfou hate toi matcn } aiiid ' iug -ofold .bar brooches, the girt of .the.; b r hlc-oroo m . Messrs Sidney Saunders and Frank Stubbs were the groomsmen.. Mr P. J Nolan.-assistant subrediter. of* the Cimstchurch “Press,” who has been appointed to a position on the “New Zealand Times,” was on the 27th presented by Mr W. H.-Triggs, on behalf of the literary staff of 5 they 'Dress,” with a- copy of Groves’s “Dictionary of Music,” and -with, a gold pen) bearing q. suitable inscription, by Mv G. R. Harlq on behalf of the reporting staff of the same journal., : Reference was made to the high esteem in which Mr Nolan was held by the^ members of both staffs, and to the efficient manner in which he had discharged the duties of a difficult position. y•• / ;