TERRIFIC SEAS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1930, Page 3

TERRIFIC SEAS

OFF WELLINGTON HEADS

HARBOUR BACKS UP OVER ROADS.

(By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, July 29. The .steamer “Ngaio” left Wellington according to schedule last night, the conditions being such that it was decided to attempt to make the trip to Nelson, butt once she was clear of the shelter of the harbour the severity of the .storm was fully apparent.

Captain Vast a decided to turn back when the heads were, reached. The conditions outside the entrance were described as being the worst for many years. The ship ran into severe squalls accompanied by more than a sprinkling of sleet. The wind was a full gale, driving before it exceptionally high seas, which repeatedly broke on board the steamer. Despite this pounding, the Ngaio came through undamaged, but one of the firemen, J. Saunderson, during the height of the storm .out near the Heads, was thrown from his bunk, and he had some of his ribs broken. He was taken to the Hospital ,by the city ambulance, r after the vessel had berthed at Taranaki Street Wharf at about 9.’3u p.m. The Maori; and , Matangi. which arrived this morning from Lyttelton and NeiKson respectvely, bad a following wind and arrived: on time. Hutt Valley, has been fortunate in escaping serious cl api age, but the full , fury'} of the storm, combined with an extremely high tide, made the Day’s Bay Road almost impassable, last evening, and again this moraine. For practically 'the whale of the length, from Point Howard to Eastbourne, waves lashed over the road, carrying with them not only sand and shingle but boulders of 10 or 15 pounds in weight. The'most dangerous part was at Point Howard, for recent road-widening had left on the side not . only boulders, but heaps of clay, which were washing over the highway, and/'made. travelling dangerous. In addition :to other, obstructions mounds of kelp littered the road in heaps 18 inches high. The County Council had This; morning cleared the worst of the 'debris and men are now engaged scran-jng-.‘the bitumen clear. In the height ibf fhe gale, about 7.30 o’clock last evening, a wild swan, struck ami carried.away all three wires of the 11,0(10 . volt: maim. feeder on the Petone Elsplahade. The resulting disturbance in the load resulted in main cut-puts, throwing practivally the whole of the Power Board’s district into darkness, with a most impressive effect for those who happened to be abroad. The l damaged section was isolated; and the. power was turned on again in twenty minutes.

There was another ■interruption about 6 a.:m. to-dav, but by 8 a.m. the damage,oh ad been repaired, arid the supply was reported to be normal. " The effect of the abnormally ‘high tide/and the backing up of the ‘harbour water by the southerly gale, was seen, at high tide yesterday afternoon, when the sea rose to within two inches of the level of the bitumen" surface at the corner of Randwich and Hutt Park Roads. At Lower Hutt the water rose higher two years ago, but on that occasion a combination of high tide and a .southerly gale was accompanied by an abnormally heavy rainfall, which flooded the Hutt River.