FULLER PARTICULARS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XL, Issue 2919, 31 January 1884, Page 7

FULLER PARTICULARS.

The IfoHowing additional particulars m reference to the gule at Baratonfta ore famished by the Neto Zoaland BeraliPs correspondent.

The galo on the night of Monday, the 17th December, will bo remembered m the annals of Baratonga ftn the period of the mast disastrous calamity that baa befallen the island sinea 18<i3. Hurricanes are rara hero, none having been experienced for eight- 1 een years or more, and even then without loot of life or shipping; The schooner Agtias Bell arrived here on the 17th December, and had . received on board a full cargo for Auckland. She was to. have sailed the flay after, tbo 18th December, being deeply laden. The Makea Aricki arrived from Auokland on the 15th December and the Atlantic on the 16th, all flyinz thu same house flag, that; of Donald and Edinborougb, and having valuable cargoes. The weather on the Monday was oloudy and threatening, with rain, and the vnrioua captains wore busy getting' out oxtra warps and moorings and making secure for tbe night. From 8 to 10 ,p.m. the gale increased rnpidly, with very heavy tea, all on board and ashore working bard, doing ovcrything possible under the oircumitanccs. Amongst others, Stanley Hunthor, a brothor of A. Heather, of Auckland, who unfortunately lost his life m nobly attorn ptinj; to >aye other*. About midnight, nltnosti tho whole of the moorings and chains baring curried away, Capt, Sobultz, of tho Atlantic, determined to beach his vessel which wan done, and the vessel abandoned, tho oaptain and crew barely getting asboro with their livoa. Douts were manned amid much danger to go to the assistance of tbn remaining ves*el«, saving part of their crews, Captains 4lunn and Ayers refusing to leave till the IKst moment. The. soa waa fearful, and uo boat could live ta get bf\ok to the doomed yseiels. The Makea Arioki was now teen to aireen over and disappear. Captain Ayerii, bin mate and cook, with Stanley Heatbmr, tjiking refuge on the last verse! — tbe Agnns Bel). Tho toene was noli' appalling. The surf/ran raoantnin» high, At 2 a.m. the mast's of tbe Agnes Bell wont over the side, tbo people on board continually showing flash light* for half an hour. Then all was over, thi> sea going ol«an ovor ihoTessel rind> breaking amidships. Nothing farther 4ras to bp feon m the darkness. Shortly Kftonrards n shoot was ruined that somo one wan bd shoru from tho Agnes Bell. A Netvo Inlnilder oC Iha crow bad got on shore, being itiiUMulouiily saved on a piece of wreckage, ami reporlcii thnt tho whole of tho unforta--Bate (people.left vroro completely washed aw*y y tho trcmomiaus surf, ho bciuf; tho nulo

I survivor. On Tuesday the wind blew with hurricane force. The sight was a sad one. The beaoh was strewn with wreckage for miles. Towards evening the gale broke, and the following day there was beautiful fine weather. The Atlantio is up on the beach, and the tide is flowing through her. The wrecks of the Agnes Bell and the Makea Aricki were sold at public auction on tho 19th, the former at 65d01, and the latter at 25d015. The body of Captain Munn was washed ashore and buried m the afternoon m the churchyard, the funeral being attended by nearly all the European residents. A general gloom is cast over the whole place. Stanley Heather wa» much respected by all the residents, being nine years here. He leaves a wife and eeveral children. Tho Island now looks very forlorn. Banana and other trees of every description have been blown down, but no damage is reported to buildings or stores. The cotton crops will probably be blighted for the season. The schooners Fairy Queen and Flora arrived shortly after the gale and reported feeling the full force of it, but received no serious damage. [Raratonga is the largest island of the Hervey or Cook Arohipelago.l