CORRESPONDENCE.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 2, Issue 76, 19 April 1879, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

Wo are always willing to give insertion to letters of explanation or interest, but wo wish it to lni ilistinetly understood that wo do not endorse the opinions expressed, or language usod, by our correspondents., Our ideas of pausing events will bo found in our local or editorial oolumoa, TO THE 01X08 OF TIIK SAMOA TIMES. Sin,—l send you u report of tho hurri-

cane that passed over the inland of Tongatabu on the 7th and Bth of March, with the readings of the lowest range of the principal barometers both on shore and on board the ships. It was the heaviest blow in tho recollection of the oldest inhabitant. It caused great destruction on shore, and I am informed by the principal business people there that the island is I ruined for the next three years to come. i There were three vessels in harbour at the time of tho hurricane, viz, H.I.G.M. gun boat Albatross, Reeounaissauce, and tho New Zealand schooner Madona. We all rode the hurricane out well and with littlu loss. Tho following morning, looking towards the shore, houses and stores could be seen down in all directions. Amongst the largest buildings being the British Consulate, a large store belonging to Messrs. J. C. Godeffroy and Son, and the new Roman Catholic Church which was lately finished is completely levolled to the ground. Tho King's palace had several feet of the roof blown away, and I believe the inland townships suffered a great deal worse. A large store belonging to the Wcsleyan Mission, having about £IOOO worth of provisions in it, was completely destroyed, and a quantity of provisions damaged. The following is a log kppt on board, by careful observations, from twelve hours before tho hurricane commenced till it was over:—Friday, March 7th, 6 a.m., barometer 2970 ; wind east. Crew employed sending down yards and masts. 8 a.m., barometer 29*05, falling; noon, blowing hard with torrents of rain, bar. 29 - 48 By 3 p.m. had everything on deok but lower yards. 4.30 p.m., let go second and third anchor; veered away chain, having ninety fathoms on one, forty-five on the second, and the third with a new hawser attached. Took boats on deck and made everything snug so as not to catch more wind than possibly could be helped, (i p m., barometer 29.30, falling, wind east with hard rain ; 7 p.m., wind increasing, barometer slowly falling, at 8.30 pin., wind at hurricane force; barometer 21)-, and could scarcely seo across the deck on account of the blinding rain From 9 p.m. till 1.30 a.m. on Saturday morning the force of the wind was beyond description, which was direct from the east, and the barometer slowlyfell till at 1.15 am, when it registered 27'9G, its lowest range; at 1.35 a.m. a sudden lull, nearly a calm, took place. 1.45, barometer 28, rising, wind veering south ; at 2 a.m. 88E; at 2.20 am. SSW; at 2.30 wind WSW, increasing, with blinding rain, barometer 283, rising; at 3 am. the wind was again at hurricane force, mid veered back to SW by AV at 3 30 it was impossible to move about without holding on to something ; at 4 a.m. barometer 28 10, wind still the same ; 5 a.m. 29-20, loss wind and rain; ti a.m. 2!) 30, gale abating fast. The barometer stood at 2!)-45 at noon, with tho gale last clearing. For several days after the hurricane the barometer stood at 29'45. The following is the lowest range of eight different barometers in Tonga: 1 28 5 2 27 : !)S 3 28- 4 27 98 5 28-5 0 287 27!)0 8 27-90 I am, &C, J. E. Hawkins, Master barque Reconnaissance.