THE GALE AT WELLINGTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 264, 7 November 1877, Page 2

THE GALE AT WELLINGTON.

(/V. Z. Times, November 5.) A slight cessation of the heavy weather experienced in port during the past week occurred on Saturday; ,but as the evening advanced the wind increased, accompanied with showers of rain, till at midnight it waa blowing a perfect gale. Shortly after two o'clock yesterday morning a severe thunderstorm set in. The first clap of thuuder was tei-rific; it fairly shook the earth, while the lightning which accompanied it was intensely vivid, and deprived a number of people who were in the open air of their eyesight for a while. The rain poured down in torrents. The wind at the time was sweeping across the harbor with hurricane force, and as it , had taken well into the northward it caused a heavy sea, which made the vessels in port liave a lively time of it. About 2.30 a.m. the Rangatira carried away the chock forward through which the rope passes, aud this •caused her head to pay off, which came in contact with the Wairoa's stern, and damaged a part of the moulding thereon, while the steamer's own bows were injured. The Xariffa, yacht, which generally whenever we have a blow breaks adrift from her moorings, this time made no exception to the rule, for at 3 a.m. those on board the Tui, lying at the wharf, were aroused by a shock caused by the yacht colliding with her bows. She was secured alongside the Tui by the crew, but not before her bowsprit was carried away. It was her chain that parted and when she was brought up some seven fathoms of it were over her bows. The Taupo also parted some of her liues, but she was secured before any damage could be done. Some other accidents to the shipping occurred, which are referred to elsewhere. The gale moderated greatly yesterday, but up to the time of our going to press this morning it was blowing hard.