DESTRUCTIVE GALES IN THE SOUTH.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 200, 23 August 1880, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE GALES IN THE SOUTH.

The following news from the south has been brought to Wellington by steamer : — Christciiurch. 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, aud in the town of Christchurch every buildiug of unstable construction received a shaking up which has left ample work for the carpenters and builders. The Wuimakiriri and Bealey rivers were flooded and the resumption of telegraphic news will, in all probability, bring news of further disaster. TIMARU. A very heavy north-westerly gale prevailed all over the district on Thursday night. In Timaru a, number of windows were blown in, and fences levelled. At Waimate the new Fire Brigade tower was levelled, and also a wall of the Primitive Methodist church in course of erection. In different parts of the district stacks of grain and straw have been scattered to the winds, and in tho back country heavy rain is falling. Oamaru. A perfect hurricane blew on Thursday evening doing great damage in the town aud surrounding districts. Verandahs and c himneya suffered considerably. At Weston a Btonc cofctngoTraa-blowir to~"thc~grround, and in Oarnaru 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 something like £300. There is no clue to the origin of the fire. Ddnedin. The north-west gale oa Thursday night did considerable damage throughout the city. At Campbell's China Bazaar the wall was blown down aud Mr Campbell estimates his loss at £1500. Park and Curie's builiiing of iron aud wood was also blown down. Ricbards 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 tho Kyeburn diggings on the 4th inst. Inspector Hicksou asked for a remand utitil next Thursday and stated the whole aspect of the case had changed and that he would be prepured 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 Leo, aguinst whom suspicion seemed stroug at the inquiry before the coroner, he has either confessed" or led tbe police to believe, [that Lee Guy, who first gave the alarm of the mnrder having been committed, was implicnted in some way with the perpetrator of the deed. Lee Guy was .arrested yesterday and it ia believed that the police are now on the right track, but, of course, they are very reticent. The charge waß interpreted to the prisoners this morning in Chinese but it did not perceptibly affect them.