THE GALE AT WELLINGTON. Narrow Escape From Drowning

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 155, 22 May 1886, Page 5

THE GALE AT WELLINGTON. Narrow Escape From Drowning

Wellington, May 17. Several yachts were Eunk during the gale on Sunday last, but otherwise the damage to private property was slight. The Hutt railway line waa in one part washed away for about SO yards, leaving the sleepers suspended for a considerable dis tance on either tide of the breakwail. It was also undermined and tunnelled by the sea, rendering it precarious for about 100 yard?. Jn consequence'of the obstruction it was found necessary to send out a train from town, to which Petone and Hutt passengers could be transferred at the breach, and the same system was continued during the day. The Butt river was a good deal swollen but was not in heavy flood. Some damage has, however, been done near Belmont. An elderly settler, named John Pringle, resided by himself in a small wooden house, close by the river bank. At daj. light yesterday morning it was observed by neighbouring settlers that the house had disappeared, and the old man was seen standing on a small patch of ground, cut off from the mainland by the river having made a fresh branch. Various efforts were made to rescue him from his dangerous position, but it was not until half-past eight that a lad on horseback, leading another horse, managed to swim across and bring him off. At Ma^terton heavy rains have fallen since midnight on Saturday. The railway bridge at Waingawr is dangerous— the southward piers being loosened — and traffic is stopped almost completely. The bridge at Wainuioru Bay ha 3 been washed away.