The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-08-23
CORRESPONDENTS.
MAKAwAo, Maui, August l6, 1871.

Editor Halrdiian Gdzene-DEAR SIR: Since
early in July, 1870 we, at Makawao and vicinity,
have been abundanty supplied with water from
d" the river of God, so full of this Indispensable
element for the comfort Of man and beast Some
of the time during the past year, it seemed to
us that We were having rather too much of a
good thing, especially about the first week of
November when we came the nearest to having
a food of any time since my residence at Maka
vac. OF this l gave you some account under
date of Nov 18th, 1870. During the past winter
and spring, our rains we're timely and sufficiently
cepious to keep our pastures in good order for
grazing purposes, and our cane-felds in growing
state. In some parts of Kula, at and around
Keokea, so abundant were the rains that good
crop of corn was raised, which might have been
greatly increased but for the scarcity of labor
the people of Kula having rapidly decreased of
late years. A fine crop of Irish potatoes is now
being gathered at Keokea, am told. A barrel
of as fine ones as have ever seen at the Islands
was brought me from that place quite recently.
Not a kernel Of wheat nor handful of oats has
no prospect of revival of this branch of industry
among US. We must look abroad for the supply
of our wants in the matter of bread stuffs. | see
no remedy for this unless supply of laborers
shall be introduced from some other country.
To resume the subject of rain at Makawao:
As the heat of summer increased the rains de-
creased, and though we had occasional showers
all along, yet we began to feel the need of
thorough soaking rain especially as the trade
winds were unusually strong during the whole
of the month of June, and these neutralized
almost entirely the benefit of our frequent show
ers. We looked forward to the month of July
for the usual rains of that month, and though
these were not entirely withheld they were much
lighter than usual, and as August came in bright
and pleasant, we certainly had some fears that
our cisterns would be very low, not to say dry,
winter rains could be expected to afford
US relief Wednesday morning August 9th, on
awaking, | found it was raining smartly, the wind
blowing from the East, though not violently at
sunrise. | supposed it was a Naulu-shOwer,
which often visits Kua, attended uniformly with
copious rains, but commonly of short duration.
But as the wind continued to strengthen as the
day advanced, l asked native the name of this
wind which began to excite our fears for the
safety Of our dwelling. he said it is the Kin,
blowing directly from Kahaleakala, a wind which |
prostrates houses" On turning to our Hawaiian
photographer, l find the following definition
a. The name of strong wind at Honuaula Maui, |
occasioned by the trades breaking over the
had often heard of this wind, but |
TIL nolo had not experienced its power. 1t was |
fearful. Our house is an old one, and my fears
were that it would yield to the power of the
blasts which from morning till near noon, were |
beating upon it. But we were graciously pre-
served This preservation l attribute, under |
God, to the fact that the building which is long
and wide one, is also low, and nestles among fig
trees of gigantic growth. The storm seemed to
spend its force upon these trees, breaking some
Of them of few feet from the ground; twisting
of large limbs, and covering the ground with
lalfgrown fruit, leaves and twigs. The rain was
during all this blow, and towards noon
hope that the storm had reached its height and
would soon abate. 1t did so, but the very last
puff of the blast lifted from its foundation the
arge house lately built for the Haleakala School,
nficting upon it considerable injury The milk
md butter house of Mr.. H. Rogers was totally
destroyed, and our native Westinghouse was
somewhat injured. Some of the outhouses on
he East Maui Plantation, also at Grove Ranch,
we're thrown down or unroofed, and otherwise
injured. Some three or four framed and boarded
chool-houses at Makawao and Hamakua were
'lOwn to pieces, leaving the Hawaiian children
cry hemahema, as they say. They were prob
bly, put up hastily and slightly. The fact is, so
ong time has interviewed since we have ex-
'erienced heavy storm of wind, that all seemed
o have forgotten that we had aught to fear from
his element. 1 hope we shall learn lesson
rom what we have now suffered from this fearful
torn.
l learn that this wind scarcely reached Ka-
or the Haiku Station; and that it
'as slight from Waikapu to Waihee, But our
tends and ueghbors at UIupalakua suffered
realty. The storm there was terrible-most
to sugarcane, walls buildings, and
specially to trees. Capt Makee's beautiful {
lace, including gardens, fruit trees and flowers
he admiration Of all beholders and which cost I