TERRIFIC HURRICANE.

West Coast Times, Issue 646, 19 October 1867, Page 3

TERRIFIC HURRICANE.

(feom the daylesfobd mehcuby, oct. 3.) t Yesterday afternoon, a little after three o'clock, a hinjicane of wind broke over Daylesford believed to have been the most violent ever felt " - the locality, and for the short period it lasted— about ten minutes — the amount of destruction done was almost "lcredible. The early part of the day had been fine ; after mid-da^ there were occasional light •, tsts of wint , gradually increasing in force. A little past three o'clock, and after a complete lull for a short time, a few hailstones driven before the tempest rattled against the windows, and were followed almost instantly by a hui .-icane which made itself felt in houses of the most substantial character, rocking brick buildings of any height, to the terror of the inmates. Verandahs were wrenched from the-> posls, flying about V\e as many kites; some of them to a considerable distance; fences were levelled to the ground; roofs were torn off; windows blown in ; and a destruction so general that after the hurricane the town had more the appearance of a place that had suffered bombardment than anything else The building that suffered most was the Church of England school, built in the form of a cross, one wing running east and west, the gable with two •windows in it fronting the west from which the hurricane came. In the middle of the tempest — as described by some gentlemen who saw it from the window of the Mechanics' Institute — the west gable fell inside without the slightest indication of danger, a cloud of dust preventing anything else being seen. On this clearing away it was found that the back roof, forty feet in length, had been lifted bodily up and left on the ground at right angles with its former position. The front roof was doubled up, the one-half being thrown over on the other. Everything in the body of the room was smashed by the bricks, which covered the whole floor. The top of the division wall between this and the other part of the building is much shaken, but mercifully stood the fury of the tempest, as at the time a number of girls were in it. wjiose escape was doubly providential. The regular schoolhours were over, but Mrs Pollard, the clergyman's wife had obtained the use of the west wing for a class of thirty girls sewing for the forthcoming bazaar. They were busy at work in the west wing, and Mr Knox, tho teacher, how impelled he cannot himself say, had them removed to the other room, thinking they would be more comfortable in it. After seeing them all settled there, he had just reached home when word was brought him that tho gable of the room from which ho had removed tho girls was blown down. It is fearful to contemplate tho loss of lifo and injury that must have been suffered had lie not so providentially removed them, or had the dividing wall fallen down. The ridging was blown off the new Wesley Church. In Mr M'Millan's shop window a large square of plate-glass was blown in. A cart shed, thirty feet long, behind the Manchester Hotel, was lifted bodily over the dividing fence. Mr Andrew's garden fence, in Victoria-street, was levelled to the ground. The heavy top of a tank at the Post-office was blown away about eighty yards, and a building behiud blown down. Every part of the town was strewed with portions of tornup buildings, fences, or verandahs. A girl returning from school wa3 caught in the blast and hurried on, to the other side of Wombat-hill. In the country matters were no better. A gentleman who was out tells us that ten minutes before the hurricane reached the party he was with they heard it coming, and tho cattle fled in every direction in terror ; trees were snapped across like reeds, and safety had to be sought in open suaces. The Castlemainc coach was lifted up. the hind part being raised and turned jound, locking the fore and after carriages. The Malmsbury coach was also caught in the storm, but the coachman, reaching an open space, judiciously pulled up. With reference to the arrival of the Superintendent of Nelson atWesfcport, the Wesfcporfc " Evening Star" of the 14th instant, says :—: — "In " Westport there 3eems to be a total absence of what if usually termed public spirit. No one appears to be auctuated or influenced by a desire to advance or further the general interests of the district. We appear to be afflicted with, a universal lethavgy. It matters not what section of the community you mingle with, public interests are never discussed, and if introduced, touch no sympathetic chord, and are compelled at once to yield place to individual interests, and the discussion of private affairs. This is to be regretted, for blessed as vre are by a liberal government, the future of the district depends mainly on the degree in which wo as a body exert ourselves. The utmost exei-tions of ono or two would bo ineffectual ; tho unanimous voico of the people is alone heeded by tho Government. His Honor the Superintendent has arrived in Westport ; but notwithstanding we have been fully prepared for his advent, he has been allowed to land without any public welcome, and we cannot hope that such a slight, such a flagrant breach of public etiquette will soon be forgotten by his Honor. We are at a loss to understand whence this apathy arises, and why Westport possessing, as it docs men of ordinary intelligence, education and social position should bo without one spark of public spirit. In all the Westland districts, many of them insignificant in comparison with Westport, the arrival of tho Superintendent of Jtho Province waß looked forward to with a feeling of public joy. Addresses were drawn up and presented deputations formed, and some ball or dinner given in honor of the Superintendent's visit. It is, however, too late to think of a public reception, but we hope that all thoso who have any stake in tho district will be present at the meeting convened for this evening, and make known tho wants of the district while the head of the Executive is on the spot. But if the present opportunity is allowed to pass, and his Honor permitted to walk through- the streets and take his departure like any ordinary \isitor, then in vain will Westport send forth a cry in the future complaining of neglect or asking redress of -wrongs. We therefore adjuro the public to rouse j themselves ; let us not have to upbraid ourselves hereafter with having neglected tho interests of tho district by the .indifference to displayed at the first visit to Westport of tho Superintendent of the Province of Nelson." (For remainder of News see 4£h Page.)