DISASTROUS HURRICANE

Otago Witness, Issue 3380, 25 December 1918, Page 20

DISASTROUS HURRICANE

PLANTATIONS GREATLY DAMAGED. SMALL VESSELS WRECKED. BRISBANE, December 18. News has been received that a disastrous hurricane recently swept the New Hebrides and Banks groups, causing great damage to plantations. Many small vessels were lost. LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. AUCKLAND, December 16. The Rev. R. P. Wilson, administrator of the Melanesian Mission, states that the November hurricane in the New Hebrides and a; Banks Island was the worst in his experience of 20 years. Native houses, churches, and plantations were swept out of existence. Nearly a dozen lives were lost. The Rev. Mr Turner's church and homo at Pentecost were destroyed. A graphic description of the hurricane at the New Hebrides is given by a missionary, who stated that 13 out of 15 native churches in the vicinity of Pentecost were completely destroyed. Most pathetic and distressing scenes occurred, the natives being terrified. While a native teacher's family were fleeing for safety a tree crashed to the earth, and killed their only child. Many traders' launches were dashed on shore. A tragic fate befell one trader, who had to swim from < his launch to the shore through the raging sea. Upon reaching the beach he made for safety, but a tree fell upon him and killed him. The people on one or two islands are likely to be badlv off, having neither houses nor food. The storm wrecked the bamboo plantation from which most of the houses are built, and the destruction of gardens and plantations, of breadfruit, cocoanuts, and yams has deprived the islanders of their main source of food supply.