THE TORNADO AT HOKITIKA

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2120, 11 April 1914, Page 6

THE TORNADO AT HOKITIKA

LARGE STORE WRECKED PROTECTIVE WORKS USELESS SCENE BEGGARS DESCRIPTION CITIZENS SEEK STATE AID (By Teleerapli.—Press Association.) Heltltlka, April fl. . Further sea encroachments at tho rear of Bevcll Street continue to-day. Tho waves are dashing against business promises, and are doing continued damage. M'Kay's largo drapery establishment izi tho centre of tho town is wrecked. Waves aro finding thoir way repeatedly into Revell Street, and other premises near by have also boon damaged. Business people are busily removing goods. An enormous sea is running, causing great consternation, and further increased damage is , feared to-night, as tho deep water is now much closer inshore. Aid for Protective Works. A public meeting was hold here this afternoon to considor matters in connection with the .encroachment of tho -sea which lias resulted from tho heavy

weather of the past few days. The following resolution, was passed ■unanimously:—"That this meeting of citizens, ratepayers and property-owners of the Borough of Hokitika recognise tho serious damage likely to follow ftom [tho continual sea encroachment along the west side of Revell Street, aud respectfully asks the Borough.'Council to give immediate facility to erect ' temporary protective works forthwith at tho places where sea erosion is jiow taihig place—(l) By providing £100 at eheo from the general fund of the council; (2) by a special appeal to the four local banks for a like donation of £100 each; (3) by . a voluntary contribution from the property-owners in tlio vicinity affected; (4) by a pro rata contribution from the whah of the property-owners in the borough not included in No. 3. It was stated by the Mayor that the Borough Council would furnish the amount wanted, and a deputation will wait upon tho Jocal banking authorities next seeak, with a view to securing a similar contribution from each institution.

During tlio afternoon Mr. j. 3?©r*y (Mayor) and Mr. H. L. Michel (chairman of tho Harbour Board) dispatched a telegram to tho Prime Minister, urging that a grant of £500 be provided to erect temporary protection, A reply, was received, to-night from the Hon. Mr. Massey, agreeing to provide the amount if a like sum was forthcoming from other sources. As this is now assured, the work will be proceeded with at once.

The weather is fine to-night, and tho sea is not so high as it has been dating the past threo tides. Thero is every indication of the sea subsiding, although a sudden cbango in the weather would cause further damage. The Resident Engineer (Mr. Sharp) arrived hero this evening. It is understood that he is furnishing a report in regard to the position. , ,In anticipation of further trouble, business people and others have removed their belongings to ■ safer on-artef S. Shortly beforo midnight theto was evevy indication that thero will bo an improvement in tho elements. AFTER THE BIG STORM, SCENE OF WRECK AND CONFUSION. (Bj Tebjraph.— Bpectfcl Ooiresj><mil«fitJ Hokltlka, April 10. The sea front of Hokitika presents a wrecked appearance to-day. Tuesday's wild nor 1 -west hurricane and Wednesday's heavy tides and great rolling breakers have left their marjss upon the whole sea front. The scene beggars description, and wreck and confusion meet the e3'e everywhere. / The biggest building along the .sea side of Bβveil Street (M 'Kay's drapery store) is a mass of wreckage. Ready helpers have removed the whole of the stock to safer quarters. It is possible from the main entrance to Re-vell Streot to obtain an uninterrupted view through tho entire length of the building to the ocean beyond. The western cud of. tho building was dashed into matchwood by Wednesday's overwhelming torrents. Tho floor of tho showroom was undermined to such an extent that it dropped, and now rests on tho beach below (falling about eight feet), smothered witii sand. Tho timber at tho end of the building is splintered and twisted. The smashed end of tlio roof has been dismantled and twisted, and bent stays add to the general appearance of ruin. Ruin and Destruction, Along the beach other scenes of ruin and destruction can be seea, Ail the fences are missing, ends of buildings havo been' dashed out. houses removed, and residential and business premises damaged in a most distressing fashion. Here may bo seen largo sheds with oae end on terra iirma whilo'tlw opposite ends aro supported by stilts, in order to prevent the building toppling over. Then tho wrecked end of a residence meets the eye. Tho whole of tho outhouses, scullery, bathroom, ,eoal Ileuses, and smaller sleeping rooms have been battered to matcliwood, and Hot a stick remains to mark tho place, The splintered beams and' damaged corrugafetf iron give evidence of the force of tho waves whisk" demolished tile structures. Thero, too, may bo seen remains of a kitchen range, as it hangs in position, being supported by its setting. Everywhere there are evidences of the fury of tlio storm. Every building within the range of the waves suffered. Viewed from the north, tho beach presents a V-shaped appearance, the apex of tlio V being at Mossrs. M'Kayaiid Son's premises. Tho most significant development is that tlio deep water is so near tho boundaries of tfie .properties. In fact, old residents declare . that they havo never known tho cteap to cut ia so near. This aggravates the danger, and- during the wild times of Tuesday and Wednesday mountainous btoakers wore curling and thundering within a few yards of the buildings aftd tlm protective works H'hich some of the residents lsad constructed.

Worst Disaster on Record. The damago dono by tJie storm is considorablo, and it is tlio. worst disaster that has ever visited fiokitika. The owners of property on tiw sea side of Bovell Street have spout hundreds of pounds upon protective works, but in the main theso works were tmablo to withstand the son. In fact fiie Messrs. M'Kay constructed massive protective works'; very heavy timber Was used, and Bxß inch posts were sunk into tlio sand, and an equally heavy super* structure erected and filled so as to make a sort of breakwater. Tuesday's storm dnslicd tlio wliole structure to pieces. Thirteen of tlicse htigo Warns stood at the back of M'Kay's on Wednesday evening. To-day thcTc- is not a stick remainins to mark tIM snot wlicre tlio owners had built this massive structure in tlio hope of lidding Ijack tho sen. Along tlio hcar.li a short distance u big stahlo stands out liki> a o-u a prominent onpo. H«re the owners , had erected heavy protective works, and

wore more forluiiftlo thnii: ntlior/irooplftv, Next tlio Btnblo- i.h<;ro.,..wer<> .jso •.jirotny tiv© works, ami Hit* s«n im« tmtaHtuly ; fit) feobmisfc a lino <Jrtiwn- in-front'oi Aim Klatiio. JJack beyond Ihtv iiiio of Uw «Pii; tihore nro miles «f limber, ami fitt.nißfi.,; Heaps of wrcclcnKo can I>o.scon-.«vi<o;-.. \rtwre~in tho tones lottfliiigv "m>./\ lio boiMilt, in llio. yards, and on'HwJußlior portion of tho Iwacti. Except .Jer,tho vast ftcwtmiitatioii of dobm,and Rcnwal wrockii-'e which nw.v Ijp soon nt.MJio southern -.bxtromity, Uio .lmach isyekau ami quito dear of.- n')>bjsh. : .Md;:AvrKk-, Kloro Trouble ppssib!a.: : .?g|p:v ; - 'last ™M tWta«s-w»ro KfA,. 1, tlio weather was am, am only erosion wns reported. To-day *o tides arogo"d, but flio weaU»r «aiherw,Uie <k- wn*bWMiiifnl and calm, bat at « $Wk tliert Iβ « »»*<*■ Bontlierlj wind w-iili to-night's spring, tides. ■;£ ;i ,.-