The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-04-19

THE year 1881 and the present year, 80
far. have been noted over all the world FOR
extraordinary atmospheric disturbances
In America and Europe destructive floods
and storms have been recoried with los
Of lives and property. both on land aud
sea Whether planetary conjunetions and
comets exercise any influence or not on
the weather. II must be admitted that the
vesr 1881 was very remarkable one a.
regards the disturbance Of the elements
| Droughts and famiues, floods and forest
fires. avaianches and hurricanes. deadly
heat and a. deadly cold. characterized it
throughout. Climatic variations, seeming
in many instances TO amount almost to
permanent changes were Observed In
old England there was scarcely any sum
mer. while in New England there was a
total absence OF summer rams. 80 that all
the streams and wells were dry. and water
came 10 be an object Of serious expense in
thst region. Failures OF fruit and vege
table crops in one place We're balanced by
] failures Of cereal crops in another. livery
where the exceptional character Of the
weather was in the direction Of m0lehcent
/ phenomena
The disturbance OF the elements has not
vet ceased either in Europe. America or
/ here A recent issue Of the 5 I. Itt
! says. e The present winter has no recorded
| parallel. either fur the low degree OF
/ temperature attained. or the number OF
DAYS Of frost. The 22d Of February Is
| here and still the frosty weather con
| tinues. Usually at this time the frosty
weather Is over. the fields carpeted with
living green. and the balmy ar laden
with the delicious breath Of the early
spring flowers But to-day the scene l.
different. The icy breath Of winter holds
! back the growth OF all vegetation. and all
l. dreary and gloomy where beauty and
/ cheerfulness should reign.
! Here al the Islands also. the weather
| has been unusually cold for tins latitude,
and planters inform us that the cane
! crops are very backward and have grown
! les than i usual during the winter
months. The rainfall has been excep-
| ti0nallv large At HilO, We learn that
/ over 100 inches have fallen since January
] l. while IN Kan. the rainfall during the
! same period three months exceeded
/ sixty inches. Yet with our unusually
/ cold and wet weather, We may be thank
! f,ll that We escape the destructive storms
which visit the old countries. Only a few
weeks since. we read of q cyclone which
swept over northern California. and accord
/ ing 10 the published report ~ che tele-
/ graph poles. wires and fences along the
4 railroad were torn up and carried away
! huge oaks. that have stood the test OF
storms for ages. fell before the gale like
reeds. and the branches We're picked up
/ and scattered before the winds Is lightly
as leaves: .panels Of fences. II i said. flew
| through the air like kites. and fields Of
finely growing grain were swept bare, not
/ a bit OF vegetation remaining TO be seen
( a man driving in q spring wagon near
1 Nelson was. struck by the breeze and mar
rowlv escaped instant death HI horse
was hit 10y the flying limb Of a tree and
instantly killed; the wagon was blown to
pieces. and the man saved himself by
crawling into a ditch The ditch con
! tanned several inches of water. but the
man said he would rather stay there than
brave the storm