Severe Gale in Wellington.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 9, 9 June 1885, Page 2

Severe Gale in Wellington.

One of the fiercest N.W. gales experienced here during the past twelve month* began on Saturday afternoon, and con* tinued up to a late hour on Sunday night. The Rotorua, which arrived on Sunday afternoon from Lyttelton, was three hours behind time, and the Huia and Go-Ahead, both bound for Wanganut, had to put back. The remnants of Te Aro House had a narrow escape. Fierce gusts swept through the building ; a portion of the southern side collapsed, and about a ton of iron was taken off the roof. Just opposite, Mr Eades, who recently purchased Mr W. Nicholson'* business, had a chimney blown down, :ind some boards were swept of the hew building which is in course of erection for St John's Presbyterian congregation in Willis-street. It was stated on Sunday night that two or three small skiffs had been either sunk or driven ashore, and that fences, windows, lamps, and roofs had been damaged, galvanised iron and shingles having been blown about is various parts of the city, but fortunately no serious damage was reported to have taken plac-i. The gale was the fiercest from a north-westerly direction since tLe time of the wreck of the Lastingham. It was a m itter of some difficulty to walk along the. breastwork on Sunday, and the spray wa^ driven over the concrete v all on the rec' ii'n^'l land for a considerable distance. — Wellington paper.