disproving the allegations made by this Department.
6. In paragraph E, Colonel Alcock says that the fundamental point is the duration of the storm, and that consequently my calculations are nullified, and in support he quotes the local newspapers (rather an untrustworthy source on which to base data). The "China Mail" of 22nd May, 1878, in an account of the storm says,
The storm increased in violence after 1 a.m.; about 4 a.m. it appeared as if the air was nothing but one mass of electricity; about 4½ part 2, the lightning and the rain poured down in a more vivid and perfect deluge. There was a brief deceptive lull. About ½ past 4 a.m. the storm resumed its fury with redoubled intensity; not-sey but it does not say when it stopped.
7. On comparing these extracts with those given by Colonel Stuart, they will be found to vary considerably. Colonel Stuart's quotations show the storm as lasting from 1 a.m. till 3:15 a.m., while those from the "China Mail" I quote show it as commencing after 1 a.m. and redoubling intensity at 3:30 a.m. This difference in the newspaper reports hardly