SEA ENCROACHMENTS ATHOKITIKA

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 924, 11 June 1877, Page 3

SEA ENCROACHMENTS ATHOKITIKA

(From the West Coast Times.) On Thursday afternoon the barometer fell suddenly, and shortly afterwards a heavy north-westerly and westerly gale set in, sending home a very heavy sea. During the whole of the night the sea was increasing in force, and in the morning the surf was seen to be breaking heavily as far as the eye could reach. Very little damage was done, however, at. high water, which was between eight and nine o’clock, but from ten o’clock a.m. until nearly eleven, the sea made a clean breach in the back premises of the dwellers on the west side of Revolt street. Fences and outhouses, as usual, suffered considerably. The principal encroachment was in the neighborhood of Munson’s right-of-way, for immediately in a line with it, a large gut-way was formed in the beach through which the sea rushed into Weld sheet. From the Empire right-of-way, almost as far as Russell’s right-of-way, the sea encroached considerably, taking away much of the beach, and damaging more or less the backpremises for the whole distance. After 11 o’clock the sea commenced to recede. Shortly before 1 p.m., his Worship summoned a special meeting of the Borough Council in order that steps might be taken to prevent, as far as possible, any further damage from being done. The sea being expected to make heavily again in the evening it became necessary to stop the opening in the beach opposite Manson’s right-of-way. This was promptly done, a number of men being put on to work

at once under the direction of Mr Campbell, engineer. Some piles were driven in across the gap, and sacks filled with sand piled at the rear. The work was completed before dark. Before 8 p.m. the sea advanced, and though perhaps the surf was not quite so high as in the morning, it was exceptionally heavy. There was little or no wind, but that kind of drizzling rain known as a Scotch mist. The sea soon demolished the impromptu protection work of the morning, and made its way occa - sionally into Revell street. Between nine and ten it was at its highest. Most of the few remaining fences at the back of Revell street were demolished. The back of Mr Davidson’s blacksmith shop was stove in by a heavy roller, and a German family living in Beach street had to retreat; in great consternation, owing to the unwelcome intrusion of the water. Crowds of people assembled in and near Munson’s right-of-way to watch the breakers. The youthful portion of the population predominated, and greatly enjoyed the excitement of being chased by the breakers up the right-of-way. Fortunate it was that the wind abated during the day, otherwise there would undoubtedly have been several disasters to property. As it was several storekeepers took the precaution to remove portions of their stock to safe quarters for the night. Another fortunate circumstance was that the tides were not in the height of the springs. Altogether the damage may be set down as trilling, at all events at less than was expected.