A "BLOW FOR AUCKLAND. DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY SHIPPING.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 110, 11 July 1885, Page 4

A "BLOW FOR AUCKLAND. DAMAGES SUSTAINED BY SHIPPING.

At an early hour on July 6th there were indications of a heavy blow from the eastward, and precautions were accordingly taken by which vossels in harbour were made as secure as possible. About 8 a.na, the wind increased to a gale, and blew with terrifio force from South-east gradually veering to North-east. Many vessels dragged their anchors, some were severely injured by collision with the wharves, whilst others filled and sunk in different places. The Birkenhead ferry service was suspended, while the Devonport steamer's missed several trips. A large number of persons congregated on the wharves, although they could barely maintain a footing, whilst the spra., almost constantly flew ovor them, the sea being high and stormy. TIID ETTIE WniTE SUNK. The cutter Ettie White, a small vessel owned by Mr T. Henderson, dragged her anchor and came alongside of Queen-street wharf, on the eastern side, where Bhe sustained considerable damage and sunk, with her mast hanging over tlie tee. Close to her was one of the Harbour Board punts, and also the schooners Gisborne and Saxon, bumping against the piles. Neither, howover, sustained any severe injury. A yacht of about four tons, owned by some Maoris, drifted through the Queen-street wharf after her mast had been cut away and then brought up in safety. The fishing-boat Lizette, owned by Mr Sanford, sunk between the wharves, whilst the Eclipse, owned by Mr Heady, got some damage alongside of the reclamation wall, and also went under water.

THE ANNIE MILBANK SCUTTLED. Probably the most serious damago done by the gale was sustained by Messrs Fraser and Tinne's paddle-steamer Annie Milbank. She was alongsido of the Railway wharf and exposed to the fury of the storm. Her mast speedily went overboard and floated up the harbour, followed by the bridge, portions of her deck-houso, etc., until she appeared literally to become a complete wreck. Then it was decided to scuttle her. This was accomplished by boring two auger holes in her bottom, and then she settled down. This was about all tho mishaps at the Hailway wharf, the ship Crusader, at the end of tho pier, having rode the gale out admirably.

ACCIDENT TO THE PIAKO. The little steamer Piako was also unfortunate. At an early stago sho got up against the windward side of Queen-street wharf, and bumped so severely that the planking was carried clean away from her top sides, -whilst she must have also been severely strained all over. The barque Italy, which was lying alongside of the barque Sam Mendel, at the end of Queen-street wharf was damaged slightly. A NARROW ESCAPE. Whilst the gale was at its height the coal hulk Senator dragged her anchor from the eastern side of the railway whaif and dt if ted up harbour very rapidly. Sho was p.issing Queen-street wharf, and threatened 5 to come into collision with numerous small 5 vessels further to the Avestward, when j Captain Fisher, Deputy Harbour-master ; got together a crew agreeable to board the vessel. They were told that no boat could live in the gale, but nevertheless they wove , quite billing to accept the chances. Cap- [ tain Persson kindly placed the Sam Mendel lifeboat at their disposal, and after some [ little dilliculty they got on board of the . hulk. Captain Fisher then gave her more , chain on her one anchor which Avas doAvn, I and dropped a second anchor, after which , the vessel Avas brought up in safety to leei ward of Queen-street Avharf. The gale abated about noon, and the afternoon Avas comparatively fine. THE MAHURANGI SUNK, 1 The champion cutter Mahurangi came to grief alongside of the Railway Wharf, Avhere she filled and sunk. The ketch Zillah from Russell bound for Thames run in here for shelter, dragged anchor and came alongside of the Railway Wharf on top of the Mahurangi. The gale fortunately abated, however, before she received any perceptible injury.

The Schooner Fleetwing Dismasted. The schooner Fleetwing, which is owned by Messrs J. and D. Oxley, came into port about 10 o'clock on Tuesday, July 7, with only one mast standing. Captain McDonald reports : — Left Auckland in ballast (shingle) for Whangaroa at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The wind was then fresh and blowing from E N.E. About 2on Monday morning it freshened, and at 3 a.m. we were off the Hen and Chickens under double-reefed foresail. The wind having thenjjincreased* toja'gale, the mainsail was taken in, and the vessel hove tod At 5 a.m. the ballast shifted to one side, an. the vessel went so far over on her beam ends that water was going down the hatch. All hands were clinging to the weather side for safety, expecting that the schooner would capsize. Everything moveable was waßhed off her deck, including the only boat that she carried. In attempting to save the boat, the mate, Mr Andrew Ross, was washed overboard. He fortunately caught hold of a rope, and was got on board again with considerable trouble. We tried to wear the schooner with her head sails, but she would not come round. At 6 a.m. our position was so critical that we chopped away the mainmast, which allowed the vessel to right herself somewhat, after which she wore round on the other tack. This, however, occupied nearly an hour. Several of the men went below to put the ballast right, and in doing so they had a narrow escape of being buried, when the! vessel rolled heavily and pitched the shingle right over them. In wearing the schooner we lost part of the foresail and staysail; Tried to get under the Hen (of the Hen and Chickens), but could not get close enough, and the wind having hauled to the N.E., I decided to run for Auckland under the remaining potrion of the foresail and jib. Tbe Glenelg passed us last night, and Captain Johnson offered to tow the schooner in for £50. This I declined to agree to, and we arrived here safely this morning.

The Barque Grasmere Narrowly Escapes Wreckage. The Grasmere, a fine iron barque, upwards of 1000 tons register, which arrived from London on July 7th, had a very narrow escape from being driven on a lee shore during the gale. Captain Raymond relates his experience as follows : — The Grasmere passed Mokou Hinou light at 5.30 a.m. on the 6th, with a strong breeze from N.E., accompanied by thick weather and rain t At 6.30 a.m., without any warning from the barometer whatever, the wind suddenly shifted to E., and blew with terrifio violence, placing the ship at once in extreme danger, and on a dead lee shore. The distance from land was then about five mile*. The master and chief mate after due deliberation came to the conclusion that the best course to be adopted would be to continue the course tothe southward and earrv sail, regardless '

of all consequences, in order to lay, and olaw off a dead lee shore. The vessel was kept under reefed canvas, reefed upper topsails and low topsails, spanker, and staysails. One sail after another went as the squalls inoreased in fury, until nothing but low main topsails and spanker remained. As the sails beoame disabled they were out adrift, and others got up and bent, the crew doing their work welf, although all day without food or rest. Between 8 and 10 a.m. the fury of the storm was extreme. Not a ship's length ahead could be seen, and the gloom sometimes resembled approaching night. The sea was frightful, sometimes leading to the belief that the vessel was getting amongst breakers. It became now only a question of time when the vessel should go on shore. How masts and yards ever stood the violence of the squalls is a perfect mystery. They were expected to come down every minute. At 10.30 a.m. there were signs of improvement, and the wind hauling to north-east permitted the ship's head to be pointed away from the shore. At 11 a.m. the gale as suddenly abated as it had come on, and at noon the weather was as fine and serene as it could be. When it cleared, the ship's position was found to be between the Little Barrier Island and mainland. Thebarometer had been steady for days at 30. 10, and stood at 30.00 when the first squall struck the ship j it then commenced to fall rapidly until at 10 o'clock it was down to 29.40, a fall so rapid as is only experienced in cyclones. As soon as the wind hauled to N.E., and signs of the storm's abating became visible, it began to jump up just as fast, and at noon had risen to 29,75. It is feared that the vessel has sustained some damage, which may lead to a general average being struck on the cargo.

ACCIDENTS AT TONSONBY. A largo pane of Glass was blpwn out of the shop window of Messrs White & Co., Ponsonby. Two houses in course of construction on the Surrey Hills ostate were blown clown, and Mr White's fonce, at the corner of Richmond and Ponsonby Roads, was prostrated, a sheet of iron being carried forty yards distant. The yacht Sybil is generally the first of the Ponsonby boats to run away from her mooring when a gale comes on, and this morning she led the way as usual, followed by the Black Swan. Both vessels were riding in dangerous proximity to the rocks, in the height of the gale. A coal barge was also blown agaiut the cliff near College Rock.