The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-03-12
COLONIAL NEWS.

By the arrival of the steamer Rich
mond at Auckland news was brought of
great damage done at Rarotonga by a
furious hurricane which ragged in that
group from the 22d till the 25th of Janu-
airy, during which Messrs. Donald and
Peterborough had the misfortune to lose
their trading schooner Atlantic, which
was blown on a reef and destroyed. On
the island of Rarotonga itself the destruc-
ton was very extensive, whole groves OF
cocoanut and orange trees being stripped
and uprooted, while between 20 and 80
houses were blown down or otherwise
damaged, the taller structures suffering
the most. Indications of an approach
ing storm were given a couple of days
beforehand by atmospheric Fremont
tons, and the natives took measures to
save life and prevent the destruction of
their dwellings by lashing them firmly
down and otherwise protecting them
No such efectual measures could be
taken with the larger and taller European
buildings, and these felt the full fury of
gale. The church at Natangia, which
was but recently erected, had it's roof
torn bodily off and blown away. The
whole OF the coffee crop, valued at
$4,000, was also destroyed, and damage
to the amount of another $4,000 was
done to the cotton crop and orange
groves.
Thursday, February 10Th, was OBJ
served as public holiday in Auckland
in celebration Of the opening of the new
craving dock, which is called after the
warship Calliope, andis the largest gray
ing dock in the Southern Hemisphere,
having depth of SO feet of water on the
sill. The opening ceremony was per-
formed by the Governor (Sir William
Jervois), assisted by the Admiral The |
dock in which the warships Calliope and
Diamond are at present lying, locked |
end to end, was declared permanently |
free for the use of the navy. In their |
speeches the Governor and Admiral |
Fairfax warmly eulogised the enterprise |
and engineering ability displayed in car
mense work. Admiral Fairfax expressed !
the belief during his address that lines |
of steamers would shortly be running, |
not only between Vancouver and Aus
tralasia, but also through the projected |
Panama Canal to the same destination. |
Extensive foods have occurred in
GeraldtoWn district, Western Australia,
on the northwestern coast, about 300 |
miles from Perth. Houses were sub
merged, and the occupants had to seek
refuge on the roof-tOps, where they were
kept the whole of one night and part of
the next day. The railway and tele-
graph lines have been much damaged |
by the floods. The total loss in the dis
trict is estimated at $4,000.
dispatch from Brisbane, February
10th, says: Serious floods are reported
from Rockhampton. The country is in
undated to depth of 20 inches. Rain
fell for q hours and railway inspector
has been drowned. A great hurricane
and heavy rainfall has taken place on
the northern coast. The You Yangs
reached Townsville with her foremost
cut away and her anchors and cables
gone. She reports that the Geelong was
wrecked on the Boulder Beach, on Long
Island. None of the crew were drowned.
The steamer will possibly be foated.
There are other vessels overdue.
Intelligence reached Hobart of a
'ather serious accident having happened
III the Scottsdale railway. train was
packing down an incline when some
carriages went off the rails. One man
vas very much mutilated and three or
our others seriously injured.
The Hon. Henry Miller, chairman of
he Bank of Victoria, and colonist of
Id standing, died at Melbourne Febru-
ry 9TH, after a somewhat protracted i'll !,
less, at the ripe age of 70. He died inn
nensely wealthy.
Sir Graham Berry has entered into ne :
citations with Strauss, the well-known ! j.,
ausician, with a view of engaging him 4
D conduct the band at the Melbourne
Exhibition. Arrangements have also
cen made with Mr.. F. II. Cowen to
Onduct series of concerts at the Ex- =
ibition.
From Brussels, February goth, it is t,
armed that the Government, after full tt
have decided to agree to E
he abolition of the sugar bounties. 81
The Earl of Dufferin, who has retired o
ON the Viceroy and Governor-General- n
Zip of India, is to succeed Sir John fe
avile Lumley as British Ambassador a
and Plenipotentiary to a