GALE AT AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 11 March 1908, Page 89

GALE AT AUCKLAND.

DAMAGE TO SHIPPING. (Faoir Our Own Correspondent.) . AUCKLAND, March 7. One of the worst gales ever experienced on the Waitemata Harbour raged all day to-day (Saturday). The wind was from just that particular corner of the oompass which allowed it a full sweep of the gulf and right up the harbour, and until late in the afternoon the gale was accompanied by heavy rain. The shipping at the Queen etreet, Hobson street. Quay street, and the smaller craft wharves was well sheltered, but round the railway wharf the full force of the gale was felt. Fortunately there was only or* ship there, the Geni, and ehe rocked and rolled greatly, but she was well moored, and rode in safety. The new ferro-conorete wharf §ot the full brunt of the storm, but stood it well. Beyond the railway wharf and towards the suburb of Parnell there is a wide Fweep of water generally regarded tie one of the most sheltered spots, and therefore chosen as the anchoring .ground of yachts and motor boats, but the gale had full swing in there. Bnd probably by the time it has abated the damage will be reckoned at not far short of £2000. This afternoon it was scarcely possible to stand anywhere along the water front, so great was the force or the wind, while the ferry boats going out for the North Shore crawled round the railway wharf corner inch by inch. The gale was really at its worst just before daylight, and the breastwork along near the yacht anchorage was littered with driftwood from the timber yards. Great breakers drove over the brea6fcwork on to the King's drive and Breakwater road, and flooded the railway line to a depth of 6in. The drivers and firemen of the early trains had the experience of driving along rails hidden beneath the eea, and the spray from the waves came on board, drenching the drivers. The small craft at anchor were unprepared, and a number were wrecked. Skids ueed for launching purposes were washed away, and' the Harbour Board pontoon U6ed in. preparing soundings was wrecked about 100 yards from chore. Four boats, three of them valuable craft, were destxoyed through the night. The oil launch Rochester, valued at several hundred pounds, parted from her moorings, and was driven in under Mr J. Reed's boatshed. Here she was battered to pieces between the flooring of the shed and the stone breastwork, being broken in two and damaged beyond all hope of repair. She was owned by Mr H. Hare, of Newmarket. Slmall pieces of wood identified as having been part of her hull were found on the roadway. Another launch (the Thorneycroft, valued at £400) took her moorings with her, until she struck the breastwork at the back of Logan's slip. Here she was irreparably damaged, the only salvage being her engine, which was saved without suffering- serious injury. This craft was the property of Ryan and Co. Mr R. Logan, sen., lost his fine launch, the Napier. She parted from her moorings about 6 o'clock this morning, and was driven in by the seas into the angle near Goidie's mill, where she was so splintered that the only part remaining intact' was her cabin top. The yacht Terekahi parted from her moorings, and was driven ashore on the eastern side of the Wynyard pier, where she became a total wreck, her owner abandoning her. The half-rater Rewi drifted ashore at the same place as the Napier, and was smashed to pieces, her owner recovering nothing beyond one or two sails. A number of small boats were swamped and capsized, several being smashed to matchwood and driven up on to the road. Others, more fortunate, were swamped, and drifted about outside the danger area, and were removed to safety this morning. Boats on the other aide of the harbour also felt the gale. The patiki Boomerang broke adrift, and pitched up alongside the wharf, where she was considerably knocked about. The yacht Cigarette, crewless and under bare poles, went for a run down the harbour, and was picked up this morning by an oil launch near the Northcote wharf. A number of small boats drifted underneath the wharf, and in several cases the masts had to be removed before the little craft could be released. The gale and rain resulted in the practical abandonment of work on the wharves to-day, none but that absolutely necessary being carried out. The heavy weather also led to the postponement of the various yacht races fixed for this afternoon. The vessels arriving in port today report terrific weather on the coast. The Northern Company's steamer Ngatiawa, which left Auckland last night Tor Tauranga, returned to port at daylight this morning, the captain having found it impossible to make- headway against the elements. The Ngatiawa did very well until she was in the vicinity of Oape Colvilie, where she met the full force of the gale. High seas broke over the vessel, which laboured and strained in a vain atttempt to make headway. The etorm seemed to be of greater violence every passing moment, and under the ciroumstanceo there was nothing to do but to run back to Auckland. Other vessels had a binular experience