SAMOA SWEPT.

Wairarapa Age, 5 January 1926, Page 5

SAMOA SWEPT.

HURRICANE IN PACIFIC. LOSS OF LIFE REPORTED. COASTAL STEAMER WRECKED. WELLINGTON, Jan. 4.—The following radio message has been received by the Right Hon. Sir Francis Bell, Minister of External Affairs:— “A tremendous storm struck Samoa on New Year’s morning, serious damage being done to the food supply of the natives by the wholesale destruction of bread-fruit trees. “Some loss of life and a number of injuries were sustained by the natives as the result of the fall of fales (native houses) and trees. “Have sent round the islands ot Upolu and Savaii to ascertain details of the extent of the damage. “The steamer Lady Roberts was carried on to the inner reef, where she now lies with four feet of water in her engine-room. Will advise .further as to her condition at tho first opportunity. • The trading launch Siliafai is a total wreck on .the outside reef at Watson’s Island, where she was carried by the force of the seas when making for shelter at Mulinuu. No casualties have so far been reported from the wrecks although several members of the crew of the Siliafai were severely injured before being saved, as the vessel turned completely over when striking the reef, the mast and deckhouse being carried away. “The sea-wall fronting the Beach road is standing the test, although some old inhabitants state that the sea is worse than that during the storm of 1889. \

“The green light on the eastern reef, weighing 20 tons, consisting of reinforced concrete and set four feet in the reef, was carried away bodily/’—(P.A.)

(In the year 1889 (referred to above) the famous hurricane occurred when three United States warships and three German warships were wrecked, the British cruiser Calliope alone escaping disaster. The small steamer Lady Roberts is a sister boat of the Janie Seddon, a well-known Defence Department boat in Wellington Harbour. The Lady Roberts, which was formerly stationed in Auckland Harbour, was transferred from the Defence Department to the Samoan Administration in 1923. Since her arrival at Samoa, she hg,s carped- on the mail service between Apia (British Samoa) and Pago Pago (American Samoa), and has done much useful work in maintaining communication between the various islands the Western Samoan group.)