THE S.W. GALE IN LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 580, 28 April 1876, Page 2

THE S.W. GALE IN LYTTELTON.

The most severe gale that has been experienced in Lyttelton for some time past was blowing on Wednesday last. It commenced on Tutsday night, lasted without intermission until 5 a.m. yesterday, when it fell comparatively light. Rain fell incessantly during the continuance of the gale, and the first of this season’s snow was seen covering Mount Herbert yesterday morning. Several vessels were detained through the bad weather, notably the Otago and Wellington, steamers, bound South, and the ship Hudson. Owing to the shelter now afforded by the breakwaters, and the great precautions taken by the harbor authorities, the damage done to vessels in harbor was very slight, with the exception of the accident to the Beautiful Star. And here we cannot help speaking of the good done by the breakwaters, particularly the one at Naval Point; though the green seas kept dashing right over it, none of that part which has been faced with large stones appears to have suffered the slightest damage, and the small vessels lay securely sheltered by it from the full fury of the gale The Queen of the South, lying at the screw pile jetty, has had one of her plates indented on the port bow, and the Pet chafed considerably at the Tunnel Wharf, and started one or two of her chain plates, but this was all the damage done to the sailing vessels. Unfortunately the Beautiful Star, steamer, met with an accident, but it was one that could hardiy have been avoided. She was lying outside the s.s. Taupo, at the Screw Pile Jetty, on the east side, the Taupo having discharged her inward cargo into her and at 4 30 p.m. she let go her lines in order to let the Taupo get out into the stream. Owing to the heavy sea and high wind the vessel was carried close to the Waterman’s Pier, and the head of one of the bolts on the sheathing of the piles must have scraped her port side under water amidships. Nothing of this, however, was known at the time, and she was again moored to the wharf. At 4 a.m. yesterday morning one of the crew ran aft and called out to Captain Pietersen that the Star was sinking. It appeared that the forecastle was full of water, and part of the hold of the vessel, but thanks to her being built in water-tight compartments, the engine-room was not flooded. Captain Pietersen had taken the precaution of keeping up steam all night, in case of accident, and immediately he heard of the state of the vessel he sent for Captain McLellan, the pier- master, who came down, and ordered the vessel to steam direct for Dampier’s Bay, where she was safely beached. A survey was held to-day at low water, and it was discovered that there was a hole four inches in length cut through one of her plates on the port side, just below the water line. The dajnage d6ne is, we understand, not of great extent, and can be repaired by to morrow night. The Star was insured in several of the local companies, and the various agents connected therewith visited the vessel yesterday. Unfortunately her cargo is rather a large and valuable one, as she has not only 40 tons that she brought from Dunedin herself but also a large portion of the Taupo’s. Luckily a quantity of grain from Timaru had been transhipped into the Otago during Wednesday. Of course it is impossible to say how much of the cargo is insured, but it has all been more or less damaged by salt water.