GALES ON THE AUSTRALIAN COAST.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 488, 12 July 1890, Page 5

GALES ON THE AUSTRALIAN COAST.

DAMAGE TO SHIPPING. Early last week very stormy weather prevailed on the east coast of Australia, and several narrow escapes of shipping are recorded. All the vessels which made Port Jackson early last week reported having bad a terrible battle with the elements. The steamer Elingamite, of Messrs Huddart, Parker and Cjo.’s line, met the full force of the gale on the run round from Melbourne, and lost one of her boats. The Elingamite fell in with the storm after leaving Melbourne. 11 was from the south-west and raged with almost hurricane fury. The C.R. and M.Ii.S.N. Company’s steamer Macleay, from the Macleay River, also met the full force of the galo, and was very roughly handled. Ono sea which struck tho Macleay stove in the after deckhouseand completely wrecked thejladies’ cabin in the second saloon. The other berths were also Hooded. The captain describes the weather as the wildest he has experienced for many a day. One of tho Sydney coasting vessols was reported to bo in distress. This was the ketch Bellinger. She made Port Macquarie, having lost her sails and sustained other damage in the storm. Several vessels were overdue at Sydney and others were lying weatherbound at different anchorages along the coast. Reports received from Melbourne show that tho gale was severely felt there, Monday and Tuesday week being the roughest days seen in Hobson’s Bay for a considerable length of time. The sea in the bay was verv rough, old boatsmen slating that it was higher than on anv previous occasion within their memory. The spray at times could be seen flying right over the foreyard of tho sunken chip Cape Verde, lying oIF Williamstown (Vic.). The steamship Fifeshire, which reached Port Jackson last week from London, via ports, was another vessel that had the misfortune to bo caught in the recent heavy gales off the coast. She started from Melbourne on Tuesday week in the teeth of a violent westerly gale. On clearing Port Philip tho storm increased to almost hurricane fury, accompanied by a high and dangerous sea, and it was found impossible to disembark the pilot. Tho vessel accordingly continued her course for Sydney with tho pilot on -board, and all the way round had to contend against nothing but south, southeast and south-west gales. There was a most turbulent sea with the storm, and the vessel flying light rolled to a most alarming extent. During the worst of the bad weather the cargo broke adrift, and although the vessel was promptly hove to considerable damage was done before it was secured, Both the captain and the pilot state that the weather was the wildest experienced on the Australian coast for some considerable tirpe.