CO129-168 - Sir Kennedy - 1874 [9-12] — Page 85

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number of the trees and shrubs in the com- pound were however destroyed, and great injury was done to the Public Gardens. As showing the force of the gale it may be interesting to note that the smalleat twigs were broken off almost as sharply asif cut by a knife. The new Catholic Church at the Nollah is the saddest loss in the way of property which has to be recorded. It is simply a rain-with the exception of the Chancel, where the altar stands alone amidst a mass of stones, stained glass, broken benches and the wreck of the organ, with the pipes of which little children were playing. The principal portion of the roof was blown off one block of the Murray Barracks, but the other barracks have escaped with compara. tive impunity. The Cathedral seems to be almost uninjured. The North East corner of the City Hall was much damaged, and it is stated that some of the volumes and news. paper in the library have been injured. The porchway has been completely blown down- and the magnificent tree at the West side bas fallen. The clock in the tower has been serious- ly injured, the dial facing the harbour being smaned completely in. The clock had stopped at 2.35, about the time when the gale was at its highest The Catholic Cathedral in Welling- ton streef has escaped with very slight injury. The Police Station has been completely unroof ed, and the roof has been in part taken off the Civil Hospital. The gas pipes have been so much damaged that it was impossible to light the town last night. The local Telegraph was blown down in all directions, and communica- tion of course suspended.

THE PEAK-GAP, ETC.

The damage done to the buildings ou the beights has been very extensive. The Go- vernor's bungalow has been completely unroofed, with the exception of one room. H.E. the Governor and some ladies and gentlemen were at the Peak at the time and must have had a

terrible night. H.E. came down yesterday

morning after the storm had abated. The new Sanitariam at the Gap has been completely blowu down. A gentleman with his wife and obildren were ataying there, contrary to a warn- ing given to them and had to pass three hours Inuder the sebelter of a rock. The flagstaff bas been blown off the square. The wind both at the Peak and the Gap was some- thing terrific, and exceeds anything which has been known there before. The Governor's bungalow was purposely bails in the strongest possible manner, and was considered to be proof against any typhoon that could occur,

ABERDEEN, ET ‘.

At Aberdeen the Pacific Mail steamer Alaska, has gone ashore, and it is said there is little hope of floating her again. The force of the wind was so great that although they got out all the largest bawsers, it was impossible to koep her lashed. We-regret also to learn that her launch capsized and caused the death of two men. The scene among the janks and on shore is described as terrific. Large numbers got adrift and many of them went down in a short time. At Pokfulum, the bungalows be- longing to Messrs. Forbes and Deacon bave eutirely disappeared-and the boys who were in charge of them have not since been heard of. THE CANTON BOLTS.

The steamer Powan, the night boat of the Hougkong, Canton and Macao Company, ar- rived yesterday at abont 4 p.m. She started from Canton at the usual boar with 1,400 pas. sengers on board and at the time felt uo in lica. tions of bad weather; but met the storm when near Lin Tin. Here she anchored to wait out the brunt of it, when a bigh wave smashed in about fifty feet of the hull. Captain Benning sent about 700 of the passengers below and took precautions for the safety of the others, which were fortunately successful. The Hang Yang, which left about the same time, arrived at half- past five o'clock.

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