ANNIYEESAEY ADDEESS. 27 



within, lasted till 30th March; Tanna, which lies to the N.E., in 

 the direction whence the shocks came, being in eruption. The 

 island of Uvea, to the north-west, appears to have been subject 

 to great disturbances. 



This earthquake must have been one of considerable intensity. 

 Letters in the "Moniteur de la JVouvelle Caledonie" of 28th April, 

 from Mons. Graide, missionary at Lifu, dated Gratcha, 4th April, 

 and from Mr. Sleigh, Protestant Minister at Mou, dated 2nd April 

 from that place, give a sad account of the effects of waves that 

 rushed to and fro with great violence and irregularity about half 

 an-hour after the first shock, destroying a chapel, villages and 

 property of all kinds, together with twenty-five inhabitants. 



The first shock lasted 53 seconds, and occurred at 11 o'clock 

 p.m., the second was felt at half-past 3 next morning, but its 

 duration and violence were less than those of the former. 



The times of the subsequent shocks were at 4h. ; 8h. 30m., 

 on 29th March ; at 3 p.m., and at 8h. 30m. on 30th. The latter 

 was nearly as strong as the first of the series on 28th and lasted 

 about 25 seconds. A great many fishes and thirty-four turtles 

 were cast ashore and captured, but the natives, who lately were 

 cannibals, refused to eat them till the Missionaries gave consent. 



Mr. Sleigh says the sea formed several not parallel waves which 

 occupied a range of 8 miles S. to N., and came from a great 

 distance, where doubtless there was a great sub-marine eruption 

 Some of the waves came from further southern points than others. 



At Thoth, where seventeen persons in addition to those killed, 

 were wounded, at Mou and at Amele the destruction was 

 greatest, some of it produced by falling buildings, but principally, 

 as Mons. le Rev. Pere Graide says — "par le diluvio." 



It will be interesting to determine whether any additional 

 elevation or other phenomenon has occurred in Lifu. 



Geology or ISTew Caledonia. 

 This reference, connecting my general subject with New Cale- 

 donia, of which Lifu is a dependency, naturally leads me to a 

 subject, respecting which I am pledged to redeem a promise made 



