PACIFIC HURRICANE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 5 January 1926, Page 5

PACIFIC HURRICANE.

SAMOA SWEPT. STEAMER WRECKED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) . WELLINGTON, Monday. The following radio message has been received by the Eight Hon. Sir Francis Bell, Minister of Externol Affairs: — “A tremendous' storm struck Samoa on New Year's morning, serious dam-age-being done to the food supply of of ;thc 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 to Updo and Savaii? to ascertain details of the extent of the damage. “The steamier Lady Eaborts 'was carried on to the inner retell, where die now lies with four feet of water in her engine-room. Will advise further as to her condition a't the first opportunity. “The trading launch Siliafai is a total wreck on the outside re'ef at Waitson's Island, where she was carried by the force of the seas when making fo:: shelter at Mulinuai. “No casualties have so far been reported from the wreck, 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 ISS9. “The green light en the eastern reef, weighing 20 tons, consisting of reinforced concrete and set four feet, in the reef, was carried away bodily.” (In the year IS'39, 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 Boborts is «i sister Idoji t of tlio Jnnic Soddon, a well-known Defence Department boat in Wellington Harbour. The Lady Koberts, which was fromerlv stationed in Auckland Harbour, was transferred from the Defence Department to the Samoan Administration in 1923. Since her arrival at Samoa, she has carried on the mail service between Apia (Bri- • fish ..lanioa) and Pago Pago (American Samoa), and lias done much useful work in maintaining communication, between the various islands of tne Western Samoan group.)