THE LATE STORM, AND STORM SIGNALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3827, 17 February 1874, Page 3

THE LATE STORM, AND STORM SIGNALS.

To the Editor of the Herald. Sir, —Much has been said and written respecting the destructive storm which a feu days since passed over Auckland. So far ub its lamentable elfects are concerned, writing will prove but a poor commiseration j but I think that there is sufficient reason in its long details why they should still occupy a very prominent place hefore the public mind. Again and again (at long intervals), it is true, has Auckland suffered in the same way ; and from the same cause, while rm authoritative, voice has declared either how such evils may be foreknown, or their fierce effects prevented. I do not deny that there are storms which are so sudden in their devastations as may not be foretold, but those are very exceptional circumstances, and are for the most part confined toother latitudes. Let no one nay that our present condition was inevitable, or, that the storm we are now considering could not have been foretold. Such was far from being the case. Nature was not so subtle but that her meaning, even in this case, might have been very readily interpreted as early as Friday night; and I am certainly «6 a loss to know, with others, why such unmistakable eridence as was presented to the unscientific even, should have escaped foe noliee of those invested with authority to warn. It is not often that the barometer is 9uch a good interpreter of coming danger and bidden force as it was during the late gale. Late on Friday night its fluctuations were of no ordinary character, the mercury oscillating with great regularity between 29 and 30 inches for more than two hours, while the difference between the wet. and dry bulb thermometers w.ts only 8 deg. Fab. At the same time, an Aurora of great brilliancy was flashing about in the south-east, waxing and waning with great rogulaiity with the pulsations ! of the mercury in the barometer. There was evidently a magnetic storm in progress of no small magnitude, vtbiph is an almost infallible forerunner i>? a ' terrestrial storm. Early on Saturday morning these effects eeasod, and the b'_ rome | er commenced to fall rapidly, conMu'j'i,,,, s0 until 6 p.m. of that day, when it ► u ddenly rose two-tenths of an inch, at which, height* it remained until 10 p.m. of U; ie 811me evening. These effects might ha'e al been noticed by others interested, in the science, and had there been a proper system of signals, they would hare been sufficient, to have prevented much of the calamity which Auckland has been caused to suffer. I have but epoken of those indications which are generally considered sufficient to predict a storm, but there were other evidences which are recognised in the scientific world as quite unique to prove the approaching of a like phenomena. Bnt if those in authority will disregard the more simple evidences of danger, how can we expect them to notice facts which epeak from afar off? If they cannot her when Nature speaks so clearly, how can they be expected to read where she is reticent? The fact is, we want this science physically studied, and not mere facts recorded year after year, and then thought no more about. We wmit f acts certainly, but we also want them repeatedly considered, and their fu.l meaning interpreted. To do this advantageously, and in order that it may provide us a means of general safoty, there is but one course to pursue. A institution is necessary, which shall be fitted up with all requisite instruments, to be in daily communication with similar institutions of other ports by the aid of the telegraph. It Bhould then be the object of this and all other institutions for this purpose, to i*Bue daily weather charts can-isliiig of all the facts which may have been collected the previous day, and the most likely deductions which may bo drawn from them. It could then be readily seen from an inspection of these charts, not only when a storm was in progress, but those parts over which it would pass, together with the nature of the storm itself. There is no other course before us than this to insure successful issues; and thus the | question might now be asked with great propriety, whether such an institution shall be prepared at once, or be again postponed until other devastations of this nature fall upon us? Let it be remembered that the longer we delay this matter, the more are the chances multiplied of a repetition of the sorrows we wish to mitigate, for when we get the institution we shall need experience, and that will take time in such a science »« meteorology. For it must not be thought that in dealing with this matter wo have only to ljok at terrestrial causation ; t > make this science of any ultimate value to mankind we must extend our researches far beyond this earth, which Only is affected by changes of a secondary order. When such a move is ma le as the one I now advocate, —when this matter shall be undertaken by those whose prerogative shall be to pursuo it with a fixed determination to do their duty nobly and well; —then, and then only shall be averted those losses over which we have recently been called to mourn, and in tho comparative safety it will give U3 shall we only be enabled to estimate the value of such an institution. I trust this matter will no longer be forgotten, or allowed to be subordinate to things of far less importance, for surely the preservation of life and property should have the first claim upon our consideration, and be allowed to make the most dignified and earnest appeal to our humanity. .But if our present condition does not stimulate us to action—action suited to the requirements ot tho case—then wo have but one alternative left us, — that of waiting until some more foreible manifestation of our want presentß itself which ahull force us to provido against such contingencies.—l am, &c, S. J. Lambkkt, F.BA.S,, Newton Observatory. Auckland, February 16, 1874.