A TERRIFIC GALE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1926, Page 1

A TERRIFIC GALE

BY TLLEGHAPH PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT AUCKLAND, July 12. A heavy easterly gale on Saturday night continued over Sunday night, a 1 times blowing with hurricane force The railway embankment at Judges 1 Bay was undermined in several places iby the heavy sea, the rails being twisted down to the level of the low water mark. An enormous quantity of earth falling was washed into tho sea. The window of a grocer’s shop 'in K-arangahape Roatl was blown in. and a verandah of a grocer’s shop on the Great North Road was wrecked. I here were many minor breaks in the Power lines caused by the branches of broken trees. All vessels in port had a severe buffeting. The Mako met a full gale off the East Coast coining from Gisborne, and hove to for eight hours on Saturday night. She arrived early last evening. The ferry services were completely disorganised. The Condor was carried past its destination to Birkenhead and could not return to tho town ivliarf for four hours. Several ferry boats sustained minor damage, and frequently passengers were seaside. Telegraph and telephone lines were seriously disorganised and communication with many places was I completely cut off. FURTHER DETAILS. AUCKLAND, July 12. Severe damage was done by the storm during the week-end, which is considered to be the hardest one experienced here for many years. Tho I ivind reached cyclonic force at times, aid an exceptionally high tide oc-

curred in the harbour Inst night, the water at full tide being within five feet of the western ferry. Tho waves were breaking over all the wharves. I'll ferry services liad to be suspended for two hours. The full fury of the storm broke on the railway embankment, which is being extended across Judge’s Bay and Hobson Bay. The waves washed away a large quantity of tho spoil along that portion of the embankment that has been built during the last six months. Jiii places there is now actually nothing but the foundation remaining. Originally tho embankment was a chain wide from Point Resolution towards Orakei, but the storm has carried away thousands of tons of earth, with tho result that the line has been completely wrecked in places. Yacht and launch owners spent an anxious week-end, several yachts and launches suffering ‘damage. McCallum Bros’ scow “ Pahflri ” I loaded with shingle, was swamped outside Wniroa River yesterday morning. Telegraphic and electric light services were interfered with at various places. Milford waterfront, where many properties run right clown to the beach, was a scene of devastation to-day. Tho retaining walls, which looked strong enough to withstand any seas, gave way, and tho roofs and fences were also swept away. Mr A. Marshall's" summer house built on piles, was washed away, and now lies upside down. Concrete steps at tho bottom of ' Brett Avenue, collapsed. At various other points on tho North Shore, great havoc was caused. The damage at Milford and Takapuna is estimated at five thousand pounds.