HURRICANE DAMAGE

Wairarapa Age, 5 March 1935, Page 5

HURRICANE DAMAGE

EXPERIENCE OF THE COOK ISLANDS. PEOPLE BEAR UP CHEERFULLY. RESIDENT COMMISSIONER'S REPORT WELLINGTON, March 4. Details of hurricane damage in the Cook Islands arrived by the Maunganui to-day. A cablegram from Judge Ayson (Resident Commissioner) says: 44 On my return I found the people cheerful in spite of their hurricane experiences and losses and the whole population working vigorously to repair damage. In Raratonga all roads were open and the sanitation and water supply services were restored by February 16. There is now no risk of an epidemic. In Avarua village over a thousand tons coral rock, sand, fallen trees and debris have been cleared away and in other districts of Rarotonga hundreds of men have similarly cleared away storm debris The general health is good.

I am advised from Atiu that Mitiaro received the full force of the hurricane . There was no loss of life, but serious damage was done to all crops and there is a threatened food shortage. High winds and seas were experienced in Raratonga on February 7, 8 and 9, reaching hurricane force on February 10 and 11 On Sunday (February 10) the wind and seas swung into the north and the main road at Avarua was conitnually under water, as the seas came straight into the harbour. The Administration officers were flooded to a depth of eighteen inches. The seas entered the Hospital buildings, but the patients were removed All the people were warned away from the waterfront on Sunday night, as roofing iron flying through the air from the cargo sheds was dangerous There were no signs of panic among the natives, whose attitude was fatalistic."—(P.A.)