NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 March 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

STORM AT AUCKLAND.

'ONE OP THE WORST. EVER EXPERIENCED. AUCKLAND, March 19

One of the worst storms ever experienced in Auckland raged on the harbour last night,.a howling gale being at its height bet wen midnight and 2 o ’clock. The waterfront this morning was strewn with debris and wreckage, and the damage must run into thousands of pounds. Along Freeman’s Bay and Ponsonby the damage was partL enlarly heavy. At Parker and Lamb’s timber mills a number of scows piled up, practically on top of of one another, and 300 or 400 logs got loose, completing the damage at the Kauri 'Company ’s and other mills. There were similar scenes at St_ Mary’s Bay, launches, yachts, and logs having broken away. The Wcstend Boating Club’s shed was damaged, and only two boats are Intact. Across the road the Agricultural Association’s auxiliary stand was blown completely over and is now a heap of wreckage. The grand stand was partly unroofed. The Trotting Club’s loss is estimated at £IOOO.

On the North Shore several houses were unroofed. Very high tides were experienced and in all seaside suburbs several yachts are totally destroyed. At Kohlmarama houses were invaded by the sea. Telegraphic communication with the south is seriously interrupted.