THE GALE

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2029, 25 August 1880, Page 3

THE GALE

According to the local papers tho gale at Wellington was one of the heaviest ever experienced there. It raged from midnight of Thursday, and its period of cumulation appeared to be all day, during which squall after squall of furious intensity swept over the town and harbor. Although houses were literally shaken to their foundations, very little damage was done beyond the destruction of a few panes of glass. The gale was felt most severely at Kilbirnie. Travellers in that direction, and there were many, in consequence of an advertised sale, found that it was clearly impossible to hold a footing on the road along the range, and the buildings at Kilbirnie endured a violent shaking. One was completely knooked to smithereens, the back premises telescoping into the front parlor, to the intense consternation of the occupants. A female pedestrian was blown literally off her legs, her drapings noting as a paraohute, and when she dropped again on terra firma Bhe came down with suoh force that she suffered a fracture of one of her limbs. Great preparations had been made for celebrating the opening of the New Drillshed by a concert, on Saturday evening, but an unforseen occurrence caused its postponement. The new building says the " Times," had not received any severe test until the heavy galo sprang up on Friday. Many of those who visited the interior during that day did not feel at all comfortable, and a number of the vocalists who assembled for practice during the evening left shortly after their arrival because they did not feel safe. The majority of those who remained till the practice was over also felt greatly relieved when they once more found thomselves in the open air, although the fury .of the gale was by no means calculated to make out-door exercise pleasant. But as the structure stood safe and uninjured throughout the night, all fears gradually subsided, and the preparations for the evening were proceeded with. Shortly after 3 p.m. two of the straining rodß broke short off at the end, and'dropped heavily on the temporary stage which had been erected for the singers. The large perpendicular and semioircular gable, which stood at right angles to the wind, and was therefore exposed to its full force, immediately oommenoed to bulge in, pulling the low roof of the lean-to, which rested on the outer brick wall, over with it. The gable, we may add, is 7Cft. long and 45ft. high, thus giving a great surface for the wind to bear upon. It is suspended from each end without intermediate support, being trussed to make it self-supporting. The brick wall is lOOit. long, 10ft. high and 9in. thick. It was built with lime mortar, according to the specifications, the foundations anil gutter being cement. The gable end did not sustain any further damage. It has been secured by a number of heavy stays by Mr S. Brown, who erected the building, and who, though the contract was out of his hands for some time, was very willing, when sent for, to do all that lay in his power to save it. The damage is not so extensive as may be imagined, and some £4O or £SO will suffice to carry out tho necessary repairs, including two stronger straining rods.