FEARFUL HURRICANE AT TAHITI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 16

FEARFUL HURRICANE AT TAHITI.

THIRTY LIVES SUPPOSED TO BE LOST. FURTHER SHIPPING CASUALTIES. . ' Auckland, April 2. The steamer Richmond arrived to-night from the Islands, and brings intelligence of a fearful hurricane at Tahiti, and of more shipping, disasters. A downpour of rain set in at Papette on March 4 and continued till the 9th, when it culminated in a flood, the city of Papette being submerged for 30 hours. A gale of terrible violence prevailed, and buildings were blown down, including many houses in the Chinese quarter of the town, whilst others were unroofed. Trees were uprooted, and great damage done to property throughout the island. One native village was swept bodily into the sea, and it is supposed 30 lives were lost. Thirty nine bridges were Swept away, damage to the amount of 450,000fr being thus caused. Com- j munication between the various islands has been interrupted and roads ' rendered , impassable, | whilst the beautiful avenues of trees at Papette have been destroyed. The natives are without food or shelter, the plantations having been destroyed. ' The American ship Red Cross, bound from Newcastle to San Francisco, with coal, put into Raratonga on the 15th March dismasted. While entering Avarua harbour she ran ashore, and was then purchased by Exham, on behalf of Donald and Edenborongh, for £500. The ship was floated j portion of her cargo having been taken out, and was brought to a safe position in the harbour; but on the "21st, a fierce gale having sprung np, she parted her moorings, and, striking on the reef, foundered. No lives were lost. The Auckland barquentine Ada C. Owen was lost on February 4. She was making Papera harbour, near Fapette, there being a steady wind with a very heavy swell. When the vessel reached the entrance of the harbour the wind suddenly died away, and left her helpless in the heavy rollers. She soon drifted on shore, and became a total wreck. The Ada C. Owen was the property of Donald and Edenborough, and was-insured for £1300 in the New Zealand office. The wreck was Bold for 400dol. A quantity of wreckage, and a boat belonging to the ship Suakin, bound from Newcastle to ; San Francisco, have been washed ashore at the Island of Aitutniti, and it is surmised that the vessel has been lost at sea. The Suakin) .which was almost a new; ship, was the property of the Suakin Shipping Company, and Captain Seabrook was in command. Amongst the passengers by the Richmond are several French residents of Tahiti, en route to visit the Paris for the exhibition.