§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is in a position to make a statement on the recent cyclone in Mauritius.
§ Colonel StanleyI regret to say that the cyclone which occurred on 17th January in Mauritius was one of the most severe for many years. Although fortunately the loss of life was comparatively small, the material damage was very considerable. The Mauritius Government have opened a fund for the immediate relief of those actually in distress, and His Majesty's Government have decided to grant the sum of £10,000 for this purpose at once. The approval of the House for this grant will be sought in Supplementary Estimates to be presented very shortly. If later the Colony needs further assistance for the repair of the damage, this will be favourably considered by His Majesty's Government. It is still difficult to estimate the total damage. In the harbour one tug was sunk and a sugar store destroyed, but the damage to quays and wharves was insignificant and no other ships were lost.
Throughout the Island serious damage was done to buildings and sugar factories, and the labourers' dwellings and the houses of the poorer classes suffered especially heavily, and in many areas were almost completely destroyed. Steps have been taken to provide all possible accommodation for the homeless, who are being fed by Poor Law and Educational Authorities, estate managers and by the Municipality and Township Boards. As regards losses of cane, these cannot at present be fully assessed and much depends on the weather during the next few weeks. Virgin canes must be replanted in many areas. Cereal food crops have been wiped out and vegetable garden produce heavily damaged. The fishing industry has also 1471W been brought to a stop for the moment. Communications were seriously damaged, but with the valuable assistance of the military authorities, the main communications have now been restored, including a percentage of the power, light and telephone services. The water supplies are in most areas adequate. Fatal casualties so far reported are less than twenty. Every possible step has been taken to secure immediate assistance for the Colony in this misfortune. The Governor of Kenya, in consultation with the Military Authorities, has offered any immediate relief that they can give and urgent efforts are being made with the assistance of other Government Departments concerned here to expedite the transmission of badly needed stocks of roofing material and other supplies to the Island.