THE LATE STORM ON THE EAST AST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 198, 7 September 1903, Page 4

THE LATE STORM ON THE EAST AST.

Those who hold the opinion that the East Coast of New Zealand has perpetual sunshine, and that all the rough weather is experienced on the West Ooaet, will have read with dismay the news ef the great storm which raged from the Bluff to the North Gape daring last week. AT POBT CHALMERS the storm was so severe that all shipping was at a standstill; vessels could neither leave or enter the harbour on account of the heavy sea running and high wind. AT OAMARU the weather was very bad. The Oamaru Mail, on the evening of the storm, says" The sea is at present running as high as it has done for years, and the breakers are booming in with a forco almost irresistible. None too soon did the Council effect their protective works, and that they are protective is made evident by the fact that! just north of the baths, where no blocks were thrown over, the sea has made further great inroad?, while the protected bank near the gasworks remains snugly intact. Opposite the New Zealand Refrigerating Company'sworka the baak is rapidly crumbling away, though, with very little trouble and expense, the works could be safely guarded." It was AT Till ABU, however, that the storm seemed to exceed anything previously seen, at any rate for many years. The Timaru Herald gives a graphic description of the tremendous gale and consequent heavy sea, although, from subsequent telegrams, it is gratifying to learn that the harbour work stood the test exceedingly well. After describing the terrible sea running, from the spectators point of view, the Timaru Herald says" Unfortunately the storm did more than provide an interesting spectacle, a considerable amount of damage being done to the staging of the eastern mole. About 9.30 a.m. a number of piers at the outer end —said to be ten in number—were torn away, and disappeared. The triple pile-driving truck at the end floated away, apparently taking with it some part of the staging timbers, to which it was well secured by chains. The truck or platform carried a shed in which waß housed when at work a donkey engine, a eouple of winches, three pile-driving derricks, and a good deal of gear, including a 12cwt, "monkey." (The engine was saved, having been brought ashore for the lengthening of the Main wharf.) The platform drifted away towards the Ninety-Mile Beach, halting now and then, probably because piles or other timbers attaohed to it dragged on the bottom. When a good way off it looked vary like a three-masted vessel in distress. By mid-day one of the derricks had collapsed, and abou 1 : half-past 12 nothing could be seen of the structure at all. Later on a considerable quantity of wreckage went ashore on the Washdyke spit. No further damage was done to the extension. Of course the news of the damage spread through the town very quickly, and a great number of people went down during tbe day to see what had happened.

Inside the harbour there was little trouble. The steamers Waiwera and Selsdon were both lying at the Main wharf. The Waiwft plunged about a good deal, breaking two of the hawsers, and grinding a couple of white pine fenders into chips; but the work of unloading the vessels was not interfered with. The two sailing vessels lyiog at the Moody wharf were not materially affected. The fact that two steamers like the Waiwera and Selsdon were able to be held at all at the Main wharf with such a sea running outside speaks volumes -to those who are familiar with the harbour of the past —of the value of the eastern extension," In tbe North Island, also

AT GISBORNE, there was a very heavy e a.i along tbe coast. Inward passengers and mails by the Zsslandia were landed, the steamer sheltering under Young Nick's Head. As the sea increased in fury the outward passengers and mails could not be conveyed by tender, and tbe steamer had to remain in shelter until the storm abated, and then be tendered,