24 October 1874 Glenorchy My dear Donald Yours of 12th inst came to hand two days ago. Your former letter I answered in due course. We have had very severe weather here this spring. On Monday 12th, the same day as you write we had quite a tyfoon here. It blew down with me 8 large blue gum trees with tons of earth attached to there roots and a beautiful pine 20 feet high and 11 inches through, snapped of by the ground and blew fencing down. Also I was out at the time the trees came down trying to prop up some of them and the gust almost lifted me off my feet. I have been in a tyfoon blowing harder but not much. Very