DESTRUCTIVE GALES IN THE SOUTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 199, 21 August 1879, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE GALES IN THE SOUTH.

The following news from the south has been brought to Wellington by steamer :— ™. lt _ CIIRISTCnCRCH. The north-west gale in the Canterbury district did an immense amount of damage. At Lyttelton houses were unroofed, chimney pots were blown down, trees uprooted, and general desolation prevailed. At Kaiapoi Rangiora, Amberley, Oxford, and Cust similar damage prevailed, and in the town of Chnstchurcb every buildiug of unstable construction received a shaking up which has left ample woik for the carpenters and bunders. The Wuimakiriri and Bealey rivers were flooded and the resumption of telegraphic news will, in all probability brine new* of further disaster. . , TIMARU. A very heavy north-westerly gale prevailed all over the district ou Thursday night In Timara a number of windows were blown iu and fences levelled. At Wainmte the new Fire Brigade tower was levelled, and also a wall of the Primitive Methodist church in course of erection. Iu different parts of the district stacks of grain and straw have been scattered to the windß, and in the back country heavy rain is falling. . . Oamaro. A perfect hurricane blew on Thursday evening doing great damnge in the town aud surrouuding districts. Verandahs and rhimneys suffered considerably. At Weston a Btonc cottage yms blown to the grround, and in Oamaru the side of a bouse was blown in The residence of Samuel Holmes at Hildathorpe was destroyed by fire this morning It was uninsured, and Mr Holmes loses eomething like £300. There is no clue to the origin of the fire. _„ , Donedin. The north-west gale on Thursday night d.a considerable damage throughout the city. At Campbell's China Bazaar the wall was blown down and Mr Campbell estimates his loss at £1500. Park and Curie's builiing of irou aud wood was also blown down. RicLards and Co of George-street also suffered considerably. Fences and windows were broken At Port Chalmers several vessels dragged their moorings but no damage was done At the Resident Magistrate's Court at Naseby Ah Lee and Lee Guy were charged with the murder of Mary Young at the Kyeburn diggings on the 4th inst. Inspector Hicksou asked for a, remand until next Thursday and stated the whole aspect of the case had changed and that he would be prepared to go on with the trial on that date. The remand was granted. In connection with this mysterious case it appears that siuce the arrest of Ah Lee, against whom suspicion seemed strong at the inquiry before the coroner, he has either confessed" or led the police to believe, [that Lee Guy, who first gave the alarm of the murder having been committed, was implicated in some way with the perpetrator of the deed. Lee Guy was arrested yesterday and it is believed that the police are now on the right track, but, of course, they are very reticent. The charge was interpreted to the prisoners this morning in Chinese but it did not perceptibly affect them.