STORM IN AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1916, 26 November 1913, Page 7

STORM IN AUCKLAND.

BRIEF BUT VIOLENT. CHAOS AMONG SHIPPING, I ' (By Tolosraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, November '25. One of the most violent squalls experienced in Auckland for several years swept across tho 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. The wind was blowing a moderate gale from the north-west, accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning and loud peals of. thunder. At 4.20 p.m. tho storm burst with great fury over the waterfront, and it was almost impossible to stand up against the wind on the Hobson Wharf, which is exposed to any bad weather from the westward. The storm swept tho wharf and its vicinity ivitli .startling fury, and for about half an hour thero was a general mix nj> of ferry steamers, trading scows, ' ketches, launches, and many other craft. Thero is an unusually largo number of sailing craft in port, at the present time tho majority being anchored to the westward of tho Hobson Street Wharf. When the storm broke almost every vessel at anchor dragged, and fairly raced down the harbour in tho direction of tlio Hcbson Street and Queen's Wharf. Urgent messages wero sent from all directions for assistance, and tho Harbour Board's tugs and several launches, and tho Devonport Ferry Company's tug Young Bungareo had a merry time for fully two hours-towing drifting craft to safe anchorages out of tho fairway. Tho ferry services wero slightly "disorganised for several trips, and the boats experienced a lively time battling across tho harbour. Approaching the Hobson Wharf the stpamcrs appeared to catch the full force of the gale, and on several occasions wero blown almost on to tho new ferry tco at tho Queen's Wharf before being under control again. Several launches broko adrift and raced down tho harbour. So far as is known they were eventually secured and towed into places of safety.

Tho larger steamers at anchor in the stream rode out tlie storm safely. The dredge, which was at work off the returning wall at Freeman's Bay, commenced: to drag, and brought up across tlio bows, of the scow Moa. Tho si'ction dredge, wliich lias - been engaged in pumping mud into tho new reclamation, broke adrift, with the result that tho big pipes and their pon-> toons were jumbled about in all di'rectiriis. Tho first squall was succeedcd by another shortly before 6 p.m., but by this timo most of tho craft have been secured and towed to safer anchorage. When tho first squall broke tho schooner Huia swept down tho harbour and brought up across the end of tho Hobson Street Wharf. Tho ketcli Tararama brought up against tho Queen's Wharf, as also did the scow Caed Jlillo Failthe, while tho icow Seagull was brought to a standstill in line with the end of tho Queen's Wharf, right in tho track of the ferry boats. Several olther scows and ketches drifted a considerablo distance, many bringing up against tlio various wharves. Tho scows Vesper and Excelsior, at anchor off Orakei, between Barton and Orakei wharves, dragged their anchors during the height, of the gale. Tlio' Excelsior was carried into Barton Wharf, to which acme damage was done, after which she drifted ashore.- Tlio vessel.had a portion of her bulwarks- torn,,away, by tlio collision with -tlio wharf. . The -Vesper escaped the wharf and drifted ashore.