681
The Director of the Observatory states that the
typhoon which was experienced at the Lighthouse on the 2nd Octo-
-ber, 1893, and lasted until the early morning of the 3rd, was
of exceptional severity; also that the Rock lies very the track
of the worst typhoons that have been felt in the Colony.
The existing Lighthouse which is a brick building
faced with granite is 32 feet, 6 inches in height, and the
focal plane of the light is 140 feet above high water. On the
western side, and connected to the Lighthouse, an oblong build-
-ing has been constructed, 38 feet x 18 feet and about 33 feet
in height. On the north side of this building, and connected
by a passage 11 feet long, an additional building has been erect
-ed, 43 feet 6 inches long x 20 feet 9 inches wide x 22 feet
high. Both these buildings offer great resistance to the sea;
and their construction is, in my opinion, inadequate for such
an exceptionally exposed position.
The Lantern which was supplied by Messrs Chance Broth-
-ers and Company, is of the form usually manufactured by them,
the glazing being flat.
which was also construc- The Apparatus,
-ted by Messrs Chance, consists of a 1st Order Dioptrie Flash-
-ing Light.
The damage occasioned was mainly as follows, viz:-
4 panes of Lantern glass, inch thick, on the East side, broken
3 centre panels of the Apparatus destroyed, and one fractured;
3 bottom panels of prisms also fractured; 6 brackets and 3
gallery plates around the Lantern washed away; handrail, doors,
and windows (all of which are from 75 feet to 106 feet above
the sea level) much injured.
It will be observed, from the contour survey of the
Rock, that, on the East side, there is a gully, about 115 feet in length and 27 feet in width, the southern face of which is
vertical for a height of about 50 feet. I am of opinion that
the damage was caused by the sea having been concentrated in
this gully, and, rising against the vertical face of rock,-
3.
being