STORM DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1929, Page 5

STORM DAMAGE

CHRISTCHURCH SUBURBS FLOODED.

(By Telegraph—l’ress Association)

CHRISTCHURCH. January 25

A storm of unprecedented severity for midsummer swept Canterbury, beginning on "Wednesday night, and reaching its maximum of violence this morning. Oil Wednesday night rain fell in Hoods, with a strong wind. On Thursday the rain continued, and this, morning, while the rain abated, the wind increased, causing considerable damagel along the sea front on beaches near Christchurch. High tides, swollen streams, and very heavy seas, raised by the gale, caused inroads of the sea in several places. At Bexley, in the New Bngriton distent. water Hooded the low-lying lands, destroying field crops and oven entering the houses.i 'The residents had to lit? removed this morning in milk carts and drays from houses in the Hooded area. Fowls were drowned in large numbers. One owner lost throe hundred.

Heatliooto is also flooded. One field of mangels was completely washed out at Kaii'aki. Residents in Sumner cottages were flooded out, and campers, of whom there were many, made their escape early this morning, some of them in pyjamas. A hundred sheep left in Addington yards after the sale on AVednesday, perished in the heavy rain the same night. They were all dead the following morning. All over the provin-e wheat crops must Imvo suffered serious damage, but the extent of it is not vet ascertainable. Also it is considered certain that then 1 will he mortality among newly-shorn sheep. At Almirks Bay. near Sumner, ten small yachts were sunk at their moorings. Telegraph and telephone linein t.h" suburbs have been broken m many places by tailing branches. A tree was uprooted, and It'll over the tramline at tho foot of the hills, tho service being interrupted last night. Rain lias ceased now and the wind is moderating.

SEAS DAMAGE TIALARH HARBOUR.

AVELLINdTON: January 25

The Afarino Department advises that the eastern extension mole at Timaru has been damaged by heavy seas. The woodwork has disappeared, and the beacon light oil tho end is out ol action. Notification will ho given when the light is re-established. S.S. “ STORAI ” IN MOUNTAINOUS SEAS. WELLINGTON, January 25. With steel bulkheads severely buckled and numerous deck fittings smashed to matchwood or carried over the sides, the Canterbury Steamship Company’s cousin steamer Storm showed evidence of having passed through a terrific stoi m when she arrived this morning from Lyttelton. The engineers’ accommodation house presented a scene of wild disorder. The doors were smashed in, partitions carried away, bunks broken, clothing and instruments were swirling around in two feet of dirty water. Ihe Storm left Lyttelton at 3.40 p.m. yesterday. A moderate southwest gale increased in force until, off Cape Campbell, mountainous seas were encountered, causing her to pitch frightfully, but she made excellent headway with the gale behind her, and arrived shortly before fi n.m. 'The full force of the gale was felt !lt 515 a.m. when an exceptionally heavy following sea was shipped over the stern and swept the decks as Lai ns the forecastle. Alter crashing against the engineers’ quarters, bucktinrr' the after bulkhead, smashing the doro, lifting the roof and flooding the stokehold and engine room the water tJCcn swept along the main deck, flooding the galley and carried away a heavy ashbin. Soon after, another heavy sea was shipped over the stern^ hut did not result in « « roat J 1 *I'* 1 '* 01 damage. . Luckily the stokehold fire* wore not extinguished, atiou n i water was within three niches ol the The Storm made the trip three hours iaster than usual.