THE LATE STORM.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 103, 22 February 1868, Page 3

THE LATE STORM.

The heavy gale which was felt here on Monday, the 3rd inst., seems to have passed over a large part of New Zealand, though unfortunately, ita effects in other places Were far more disastrous than here, where no damage whatever was done. The greatest loss has been sustained in the province of Otago, where an immense amount of damage was done on the farms and runs, and sad to relate, a number of persons lost their lives. On Totara station, two houses built on the banks of Waiareka stream, were carried away by the sudden rising of the stream and nine persons drowned. Other cases of drowning also occurred in consequence of the floods. The destruction of stock and farm produce is immense. One sheep-owner at the Taieri is said to have lost 1000 sheep. From every part of the province tales of houses and bridges carried away reach us. In Oamaru roadstead the ships Star of Tasmania and the Water Nymph [one of the Marlborough wool ships jn 1866] Were lying, taking in wool, the former of which had already shipped 2200 bales, and the lat er 244 bales. About 7 o’clock on the Monday evening in question, the Star of Tasmania broke one of her chains, and shortly afterwards the other, and rapidly drove towards the beach. There was great excitement in the town, and hundreds flocked to the point towards which the fated vessel was driving. Shortly afterwards she went ashore about 400 yards above the Scotch Church, and almost im* mediately after heeled over, decks to seaward. The sea was perfectly awful, breaking on the beach with a violence never equalled in the memory of the oldest inhabitant. There were at the time some twenty-two or twenty-three souls on board, among whom was a lady passenger named Mrs. Baker, and two children. In their excitement, several poor fellows jumped overboard and tried to swim to shore, but two or three (accounts are conflicting) were drowned in the attempt. After numerous and courageous endeavours had been made by those on shore to get a life-line on board the snip, this object was at last accomplished by a boatman swimming to the vessel with the bight of a rope, one end of which was secured on shore, and those remaining on board, with the exception of two boys, aged three and live years respectively, the sons of Mrs. Baker, a passenger, who were., drowned in the forecastle, where their mother had put them for safety, were all got safely to land, and received the care and attention which their sad circumstances required. About ail hour after the wreck of the Star, the Water Nymph went ashore about half a mile to the ’ northward, but all her crew fortunately escaped safely to land, except the mate, who broke his arm. At an auction sale held afterwards, for the benefit of the underwriters, the Wreck of the Star sold for £4O, and the wool for £1,360 ; the wreck of the Water Nymph for £172, and her wool for £BIO The schooner Otago, which left the roadstead at the beginning of the storm, was driven ashore and broken up. Her captain and crew escaped with their lives. The jetty and most of the surf-boats at Oamaru were also destroyed. At Timaru the steamer William Miskin was driven ashore and lost. On the West Coast of the Middle Island the gale blew furiously, and, at the Eight-Mile Diggings a large tree was blown across the Victoria Hotel, killing its proprietor on the spot, and injuring his wife so badly that her life is despaired of. At Napier the storm caused the wreck of the ship Echunga, which was lying in the roadstead with about 1900 bales of wool on board. She drove on to the Western' Spit, about four miles from the entrance of the . harbour, and Very soon went to pieces. The wreck, as it lay, was afterwards sold in lots for £4O. The gale was felt in Auckland, but not so severely as in other places. A few- small craft were, however, lost or otherwise injured at the Thames and on the coast. We learn from private sources that Taranaki was also visited by the gale, but with what effect we have not heard. —* Independent.