HURRICANE AT FIJI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 35

HURRICANE AT FIJI.

AUCKLAND. January 29. The Navua, which armed from Sydney via the Islands to-day, brought to Auckland details of tho fierce hurricane which swept a portion of the Fiji group a fortnight ago for two days. The gale raged; furiously over Lomalojna, and the shipping in the immediate vicinity suffered disastrously, although only the barest details were to hand when the Navua left the group on the 17th. The small steamer Parua, lying off Lomaloma, was piled up on the reef * total wreck, although so far as was known no lives were lost. The Ripple, commanded by Captain Lippatt (late of the Union Company), was also driven on to the reef, but it is stated was subsequently floated off. Two ketches completed tha list of wrecks so far as Lomaloma was concerned. Another cutter (the name of which is as yet uncertain) had not arrived at her destination when last advices came through to Levuka. It is believed that the damageon land was also considerable, it being , reported that Mark's store at Lomaloma was practically demolished, while tho, plantation suffered greatly. A lady passenger by the Navua to Auckland informed! ' a press representative that the force of the gnlp was at time-s terrible. The ketch by which she was proceeding to Levuka was diiven ashore at Wainui. At this placo the cocoanut groves were badly damaged! and several buildings razed to the giound. February 2. The late hurricane reported from Fiji was met by the steamer Kazembe on her way from Vancouver to Levuka, but beyond the speed having to be reduced she sustained no damage. The Waiapu, w hioh arrived from Niue yesterday, had to slip her anchors off the island and run to spa. on January 3 owing to the hurricane. She lase her big top boat and a suit of sail=. and she did not get back to the island for four daj's. the weather coming on bad again. She left for Auckland, and off tho Kermadecs she met with a heaw northeast gale, lasting for two days, with thick and dirty weather. The hurricane did some damage to the banana plantations at Niue, but the cocoanuts escaped.