A VIOLENT SQUALL.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14833, 26 November 1913, Page 11

A VIOLENT SQUALL.

WILD SCENE IN AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

CRAFT SCATTERED AN© DRIVEN •ASHORE.

(press association trleckam.) AUCKLAND. November 25. One of the most, violent squalls experienced in Auckland lor several years swept across the harbour shortly before 4.30 p.m., and although it only lasted for about ten minutes, in that time vessels dragged their anchors and drifted about in all directions. Tho wind was blowing a moderate- gale from the north-west, accompanied- by vivid flashes of lightning and long peals of thunder. At 4.20 p.m. the storm burst with great fury over the waterfront. It was almost impossible vo stand up against the wind on the llooson wharf, wtuch is exposed to any bad woatner from the westward. The storm swept the wharf and its vicinity with startling fury, and for about hall an hour there was a general mix-up of lerry etoamers, trading scows, ketches, launches, and niany other craft. There is an unusually large number of sailin" , craft in port, the majority being anchored to the westward of the Hobson wharf. When the storm broke almost every vessel at anchor dragged and fairly raced down the harbour in the direction of the Hobson . and Queen's ■wharves. Urgent messages were gent from all directions for assistance, and the Harbour Board's tugs, Te Awhina, the fire-float, and several launches, and the Devonport Company's tug Young Bungaree, had a merry time for fully two hours towing drifting craft to. a safe anchorage out of the fairway. The ferry services were- slightly disorganised for several trips, and the boats experienced a lively time battling across the harbour. Approaching the Hobson wharf, the steamers appeared to catch the full force of the gale, and on several occasions were blown almost on to the new ferry tee at the Queen's ■wharf before being got under control again. Several launches broke adrift and raced down the liar hour. So far as is known they were eventually secured and towed into places of safety. The larger steamers at anchor in the stream rode out the storm safely. A dredge which was at work off tho retaining wall at Freeman's Bay commenced to drag her anchors, and brought up across the bows of tho .scow. "Moa. _ The suction dredge engaged pumping. mud into the new rej clamation broke adrift, with the result ' that the big pipes and tbo pontoons were jumbled about in all directions. When the first squall broke the schooner Huia swept down the harbour <yid brought up across the end of the Hobson wharf. The ketch Tararawa brought up against the Queen's wharf, as also did the scow Caed Mflle Failthe, while the scow Seagull was brought to a standstill in a. line with the end of tho Queen's wharfs right in the track of the ferry boate. Several other scows _ and ketches drifted a. considerable distance, many bringing up against the various wharves. The scows Vesper and Excelsior, at anchor off Orakjj,. between the Barton and Orakei wharves, dragged their anchors during the height of the gale. The Excelsior was carried into Barton wharf, to which some damage was done, after -which she drifted ashore. The vessel had a portion of her bulwarks torn away by the collision with the wharf • The Vesper" escaped the wharf and drifted .ashore. Several enop windows were broken in the city, and trees were blown down in the suburbs. At Mt. Albert a pine tree was blown across the railway line, and a train pulled up just in time to avoid a collision.