GALE ON COAST.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17116, 11 April 1921, Page 9

GALE ON COAST.

KAIKOURA FISHING FLEET SUFFERS.

(sPfiCIJJ- TO "IHE r-RESS.") KAIKOURA, April 10. Kaikoura was subjected to a terrific easterly gnlo (luring Saturday afternoon and evening. Heavy seas swept the shores round the coast, and filled up llio mouth-* of tho creeks. Fortunately there was no Tain, otherwise u heavy flood would have been inevitable. Tho fishing fleet had a strenuous struggle. Five launches wore out Jibbing off the Conway—Comet, 11 eh a Tai, Spray, Petrel, and Sussex—all of which were caught; in tho jjnio aud pounded until they made South Bay. Tho Sunsex hammered away for eleven and a, half hours before reaching South Bay., during which time heavy seas broke aboard tho little whaler. The Petrel took shelter on the southern -side of Barney's Rock, but succeeded in moiling South Bay about 6 o'clock. The others also Teaichcd safety, but the owners had to remain aboard all night •lest a southerly wind should spring up. The launches at anchorage in ,tho boat harbour fared worse, as the \ almni, Spec, Mascot, and Kersnge were washed up on the beach, tho Vahnai almost on the roadside near Low's Point. The Kersnge was washed over tho rocks, and now lies on the beach near Mr Brico.'s residence, while the Mascot and Spec are. on the sandy beach. It is remarkable that thev escaped without serious damage. PVob;.iW,y a fow planks- will liavo to be replaced, i La'jt night heavy black clouds hung overhead, and it was expected that tho clouds would burst, and heavy rain set in. However, tho wind changed to tho north-west, hut this evening the indications arc that a southerly will set in. "

HEAVY SEAS AT LYTTELTON. COASTAL VESSELS INTERRUPTED. A strong. gale from the East-Nortk-East, blew at Lyttelton on Saturday, making the conditions in the port far from pleasant. In the afternoon a heavy sea commenced running, and at high tide broke over the Gladstone pior. At midnight on Saturday the barometer way down to 23.08. It roso slowly, yesterday morning, when the wind shiftod to westerly. The glass remaiued at 29.10 until late yesterday afternoon, and commenced, to riso fur-, ther when tho wind got round to tho south-west. A big range ran in the harbour all day yesterday, and from Gladstone Pier the huge rollers could bo seen breaking high up tho rocks at Adderley Head. : Tho Maori, with the wind behind hor, arrived at Lyttelton in good time yesterday morning, but received, a good shaking tip on the way' down, Tho kclch Coronation arrived from Wellington at midnight on Saturday, after a smart run of juy.t over 30 hours. The Baden Powell postponed her sailing from Lyttelton from Saturday night until yosterdav morning.. The Cygnet, wbleb*should have arrived at Lyttelton from Akaroa on Saturday afternoon, did not put in an appearance until midday yesterday, having sheltered in Akaroa until daylight. SUMNER TRAMWAY SERVICE INTERRUPTED. During tho week-end exceptionally heavy sens prevailed, and, combined with very high tides, they made matters very unpleasant along tho sea front at Itedeliffs, wMo at Sumner a certain amount of damage was also done. On SBturiaf.cvoning tho through tramwai' service to Sumner was intermpted somo hours. Tho tram which loft tho Square at. 0.40 o'clock,' \.vas unable to get beyond about three hundred yards past the Heathcote bridge', owing to tho sea being across the, road,: while the tram from Sumner, was also blocked by the water. Tho through service was not restored until nearly ten o'olock, by which time tho title had sufficiently receded to enable the lines to he cleared of silt and "metal. In the meantime tho passengers had an unpleasant walk to connect with the two trams. A number of persons who walked across the tramway viaduct received a good drenching. • , The viaduct came in for some.rough handling, and numerous small breaches were uiatle. These, however, were not large enough to-materially damage the ombankme.nt, but had tho wind not changed before high-water yesterday morning, there is no dpubfc 14i6 damage would have been serious. At Monck's Bay the tide, came oyer tho tram line, and those boats which were not securely fastened, broke their moorings, and were damaged against the. sea wall, while one was washed across the road. At the Sumner, boat harbour, the high seas considerably damaged tho sea. wall, whilo one of .the motor-bouts in the harbour was also knbeked about. Tho sand hills on the point near Shag Rock were scoured out, and, from measurements taken yesterday, about 'two acres wero washed away. The tides were again hijjh, and tho sea was rough yesterday, the high broakers presenting a fine sight to the many onlookers.