VIOLENT STORM IN AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 155, 20 March 1918, Page 6

VIOLENT STORM IN AUCKLAND

SEVERAL BUILDINGS UNROOFED By ToleEraph—Press Association. Auokland, March 19. , One of the worst storms ever experienced in Auckland raged on the .harbour last night, the howling gale being at its height between midnight and two o'clock. The waterfront this morning was strewn with debris and wreckage, and the damage must run to thousands of pounds. Along Freeman's Bay and Ponscdiby the damage was particularly heavy.

At Parker, Lamb and Co.'s timber mills a number of scows wore piled up practically on top of one another, and 300 or 400 logs got loose, completing, the damage. At tho Kauri Company's and mills there were similar scenes.

At St. Mary's Bay launches and yachts cam© ashore. The West End Boating Club's shed was damaged, and only two boats are intact, On the eastern waterfront, along Quay Street Extension,' a large breach was made. I Particularly serious destruction was brought at the Trotting Club's course and the agricultural showgrounds at Epsom. The roof of the Trotting' Club's grandstand was lifted bodily an<Lcarried across the road. The Agricultural Association's auxiliary stand was blown completely over, and is now a heap of wreckage. The main stand was partly _ unroofed. The Trotting Club's loss is estimated at £1000. On the North Shore. several houses were unroofed.

Very high tides were experienced, and in nil the seaside suburbs several yachts were totally destroyed. At Kohimarama bouses were invaded by the sea. Telegraphic communication with the south is seriously interrupted..