Heavy Gale in Picton.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 243, 16 April 1895, Page 2

Heavy Gale in Picton.

REGATTA POSTPONED. (i'er Press Association). Picton, April 15. During Saturday and Sunday morniug Picton was visited by a gale of almost unprecedented severity, and all the training operations in connnection with the Championship Regatta were entirely suspended. "When, the storm was at its height, about 10 o'clock on Saturday night, a large corrugated iron building belonging to the Railway Deartment, and used as a carpenter's shop and extra engine sbecl, was blown down, and four valuable racing boats were smashed to atoms. The gale caused a good deal of damage in other parts of the town. A. chimney in the Terminus Hotel was blown down, crashing through the roof and wrecking a small bedroom and sitting room. A small school house which was being constructed was levelled to the ground, and the roof of a small dwelling house was blown .off. The orchards and yards suffered considerable dumage, and the small ketch Lily sank at her moorings. Later. The cale had blown itself out by raidday, and the rain had also cleared off, but no racing boat could have lived in the sea, which was running along the upper portion of the course. The Wainni from Nelson to Wellington called in this morning, but cannot leave again till midnight owing to the heavy weather in the Straits. This Day. It is recommended by rowing men that the Championship Regatta take place between February 21st and March 21st, at Picton. The gale raging increased in fury and a heavy sea is running in the harbor. There is very little prospect of getting off any regatta events to-day. The port is crowded with weather-bound excursionists.