HURRICANE IN TONGATABU.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 78, 29 March 1879, Page 2

HURRICANE IN TONGATABU.

Tins unfortunate place was visited by anothor hurricane on the 7th aud Btli instant. We have been kindly permitted to extract the following brief account from a privnte letter. At Nukualofa, (the port town and scat of government) all the buildings facing the beach, commencing with Messrs. Godcrl'roy and Son's western copra house to the Government copra house inclusive have collapsed. Fully two-thirds of the native houses are blown down. The new Catholic church at Maofaga has completely collapsed, and the now house in coui'se of erection was greatly damaged. The roads up country are impassable on account. of the blown down trees; and the namage to native houses is fully equal to the average at Nukualofa. The cocoanuts are damaged to the extent of at least half the expected crop. The following is the reading of the mercurial barometer:— 7th at 7 am. 2960 E.N.E., rain noon 2!)") l) 3 p.m. 2040 stronger 4 :!0 20-35 (i 2U-2<; via sols 7 29-19 8 2910 hu'eane. 9 29- 4 10 2S!)0 10 15 28-83 1030 28-70 11 30 28-40 12 2830 Bth 12 30 a.m. 28- 8 1 28 1 30 28- 5 lull 1 ? 28-10 2 28-I."> 230 28-23 S.W. strong. 3 2830 via sq'ls 3 30 28-45 4 30 28-70 5 2880 5 30 28-84 0 28-88 decr'ing. 7 30 20-10 gale do. 8 30 29-18 mod'ratc The wind having, contrary to the rule in ths southern hemisphere, gone round to the south instead of by north, the ships in harbour have to thank this circumstance for their safety.