A FURIOUS GALE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 351, 31 March 1910, Page 8

A FURIOUS GALE.

DAMAGE IN ALL DIRECTIONS. MANY BUILDINGS LEVELLED. During Tuesday night the wind veered round to the south-east, and ior hours before the dawn a violent gale wa« raging, with, heavy rain. The shower* grew less frequent, however, with the breaking of day, but the gale increased in volume and in violence until by noon the district was swept by one of the most furious,' climatic disturbances that have been known here. In fact, the general impression seemed to be that the gale had never been equalled. Fences went down before it, and chimneys crashed to the ground. Stable* and other outbuildings in exposed localities tfuffered considerably, some being unroofed, others completely wrecked, The flying sheets of roofing iron constituted a grave source of danger to people in the vicinity. Lofty trees were stripped of their branches or levelled w> the ground. Shrubs were snapped off, and in s'ome cases completely uproo-ed, whilst the hurricane wrought fearful •havoc in the gardens. Buildings were in many oases quite unable to withstand the force of the tempest. Some modern structures showed signs; of wear as tinday progressed. Several of the older buildings, however, failed to withstand the blast, and went with the wind. There was a waiting crowd for hour* opposite the premises in Devon-street occupied until recently by Messrs. oe*' kinson and Co. as carriage showrooms. It was a shifting crowd, some men allaying half an hour, others a couple of hours!, speculating upon the chance* of the place, a two-storeyed building. It swayed far out of the perpendicular, and* plumbed again. The wind returned to the attack again and again. With each succeeding gust the place, threatened to collapse, caving at the first floor. Then arrangements' were made; with a firm to brace up the building. At about half-past twelve an express drew up in the street, loaded with ladders, timber, and workmen. The hortf;* had hardly halted, when the crowd cried, "There she goes!" and the lower story of the building crumpled like a house of cards, settling the first floor on tin ground level about twelve feet hack from the roadway. The loss will not be great, for the building had been emptied of its contents. How it srtood so long was something of a marvel. A portion of the old stables now used by the New Zenland Express Company at the lower end of Liardet-srtreet was carried across Molesworth-street and lodged asrainst the railway fence. Operations at the railway station were carried out under most trying conditions. The weigh-house was shifted bodily bv the gale. In' Devon-Street the plate-glass windows in several shops had to be strengthened by wooden stays to prevent their blowing in. A portion of the verandah adjoining the Coffee Palace Buildings collapsed, and a lady who was passing had a very narrow esteape. At the White Hart Hotel the southern balcony caught the full force of the gale, and the roof threatened to blow off. Carpenters were secured, and they con siderably strengthened it, but eventually left, as the job was proving dangerous. Windows suffered in all directions and streets were strewn with splintered glass. The rain, driven with terrifle force, found entrance where never leak had been known before. In one drapery establishment tubs and baths were put into requisition, and the staff was working busily with putty and lead. The Recreation Grounds received the full brunt of the devastating force. Huge branches came hurtling through the air from the pines on the hill, and fir-cones and smaller branches were fly--1 ing everywhere. Unfortunately the victims of' the gale here included some i majestic pungas. ! People residing in the comparative shelter of the borough could have had but little perception of the velocity of the gale at Vogeltown and the other higher suburbs, or at Fitzroy. At the latter place the hall was unroofed, and tin road was for some time impassaole. I Several chimney* came down, oce crashing through the roof into a room where a lady was standing, but causing no personal injury. Trees and fences were down in all directions.

■ At Vogeltown the New Plymouth Wood and Carryin'g Company's shed was demolished. A. stable in Mr. C. E. Bellringer's paddock near the Recreation Grounds was levelled, and the iron roofing was carried for several chains, distributing itself about the streets and neighbors' gardens. One piece took a clean flight over a house clo9e by, and before seeking a reerting-place severed the electric light'wires. Several shea's were razed to the ground, and some fowlhouses, left aM safe on Tuesday night, have not since been heard of. Haystacks were blown away.

The Old People'* Home had absolutely ho protection from the fierceness of rne gale, and a section of the iron roof was displaced, some forty or fifty leet. Minor damage was done here, and also at the Hospital. Several slates were dislodged from the roof of the Poit Office. Between the town and Moturoa, chimneys and fences are down by the score. At Moturoa the local fishing fleet suffered. The boat owned and used by Mr. Flynn Hursthouse, lying up on the beach, was picked up like a feather by the gale, bowled over and over, and smashed against a rock near the cattlepens. As this was the old fellow's one means of livelihood the mishap was nothing short of a disaster to him. Mr. T. Knowles immediately set out with a list, soliciting subscriptions to repair or replace the boat, and the response is liberal. Several boatd were swamped, and the launch Awakino sank at her moorings. She had been up for exte»sive repairs and repainting for some time, which makes the sinking all the more unfortunate.

Work at the oil bores was an impossibility. The derrick* rocked and creaked, and threatened every moment to topple over. The gale proved too strong for three derricks, s Nos. 3, 4 and 5. Of these, only No. 3 has been exploited of late. The other* have not escaped damage, but were still standing when we received our last information. Part of Messrs H. Brown and Co.'s buildings, fronting the railway line, near the Kawaroa Reserve, was blown over.

Messrs Boon Bros.' timber yards were the centre of lively times during tho morning, and large quantities were lifted right across the street.

The scene from the seafront wa* one of unus'ual grandeur. There was a heavy swell rolling in, and even before the gale sprung up there were immense volumes of water dashing over the end of the breakwater, at low tide. Then the,gale came and swept the crests of the fast incoming waves. Clouds of spray were driven a hundred feet high, and Hometimes the ocean resembled one great eloud, the waves being invisible by the watcher on the shore. It was not a pleasant day for a sojourn on the shore, but the trip to the seafront was well worth while, for seldom have we had stash a magnificent seascape. The Rarawa arrived at about 8 o'clock from Onehunga,, after a very boisterous passage, but. under the guiding hand of Captain Nortury, "glided up to the wharf like a great swan," as an enthusiastic longshoreman put it. The High School came in for attention. A couple of fanlights were' broken, and the electric light connection severed, t/o that the pupils had to be careful of live wires.

At Mr Hill'* house in Courtenay street a large willow tree was shattered, and a heavy limb lodged on the roof. About midday a chimney wa» blown over. This chimney had been levelled on two previous ocoasiona by earthquake*, and eebfult.

The gale was playful, too. It whisked •off hats and acted friskily with other items of wearing apparel,' ladies being landed in awkward predicaments as they crossed the streets. An amu6fmg story is told of a local business man who sprinted down Molesworth street a few feet in front of a couple of sheets of galvanised iron, and won. As a. result of the playfulness of the wind there was/ a brisk demand for hats.

One individual turned round the road .past the Te Henui bridge for Strandon. The wind took charge of him, lifted him quite a distance, and forced him along at a great speed, eventually driving him ■against the gate at the bottom of the road.

The 'bus horses had a difficult task, particularly the Vogeltown animals. On one occasion the wind was so strong that the horses could make no headway. Jt was only when the male passengers .jumped out and gave "a heave and a push" that progress could be made.

' Most, if not all, of the gardens have suffered, to a degree in proportion to the shelter available. The pungas that add so much to the beauty of the town •have suffered to an unprecedented extent. Even in what were formerly regarded as sheltered spots they have been snapped off as if they were so many carrots. Though considerably sheltered, the bush in Pukekura Park has suffered severely, the paths being strewn with limbs and branches of trees, pungas, "ferns, etc. , Down the coast the effects of the gale were very severe. The telegraph wires are down in numerous places, and the road is almost impassable, with trees, fences, telegraph poles, etc., that have blown across it. The coaches were unable to get through from Opunake, but the mail was brought through in a motor-car.

There were many narrow escapes from accident, and amongset the number was the exciting experience of Messrs. A. Lawn and" C. Gill, whose gig was blown against a. fence near Crompton's and capsized. Mr. C. Gill was thrown underneath the gig, but escaped injury. BOREAS HARD AT WORK. A GENERAL VISITATION. By Telegraph.—Press 1 Association. Wellington, Last Night. The storm warnings telegraphed out to the far north by the Meteorological Office on Saturday have been amply justified. The north was advised to look

out for squalls on Monday, and by nightfall the advance skirmishers of a cyclonic disturbance had smitten Cape Maria. Yesterday the tempest developed, and the howling winds rushed down tne island. On Thursday night Fiji was struck by a hurricane; then the cyclone whirled westward to Norfolk Island, and after a busy time there it veered to the south-east, and headed for Three Kings this morning. The centre of the dis-1 turbanee was to the westward of Cape] Maria, and the line of march was towards East Cape. i Tf the storm continues in its present! track it will blow down to the Chathams, but other forces may intervene. Already an enemy, an anti-cyclone (generally friendly to man), is working off the west coast of the South Island, and the high-pressure movement may tone down and divert the low pressure. At 9 o'clock this morning the barometer was down to 29 inches at Russell, the lowest reading for about three years. The energy of the vigorous gale this morning was chiefly felt northward of East Cape, Taupo, and Wanganui; and rain was general in the island. Tiritiri had heavy thunder and lightning. The ■wind will change bv south-east to south, and finally to south-west. Wellington's share of the weather has not been so heavy as the northern districts portion, but there is yet time for a larger demonstration here. In a few hours the 'wind here may have more sting. The South Island, too. was mostly under clouds to-day, but down by Invercargill the air was calm. The Telegraph Office advised to-day that communication with Auckland was totally interrupted, and work for north of Hamilton will bear heavy delay. Information received by the Wellington

Post Office shows that the violence of the storm has been 'well up to the fore-1 cast. Communication with Wairangi on the French Pass line was also interrupted this moming. A swish of the gale brought down a wire just when Paeroa was announcing its plight. The message ran: "The heaviest flood ever known in Paeroa occurred this morning. The streets are submerged three or four feet." FLOODS IN POVERTY BAY. TRAIN AND COACH SERVICES AFFECTED. Gisborne, Last Night. Heavy rain hae been falling continuously since Monday afternoon. At present there is no prospect of a cessation. An easterly gale is blowing, and all the

rivers are rising rapidly. There is ever.) prospect of a disastrous flood similar to that of four year* ago. Already dead stock are floating down the river, and hundreds of acres are under water. The Monowai is sheltering at Teararoa. The evening train was blocked at Ormond, eleven miles out, by a big washout on the line. Settlers are having a most anxious time, and are removing stock to higher levels. The coaching service is entirely ■uspended. THE STORM ELSEWHERE. Blenheim, Last Night. A gale of some force was experienced in this district to-day and this evening, but beyond the smashing of trees little damage is reported. Wanganui, Last Night. Rain commenced on Tuesday, and fell

uninterruptedly till this morning. A heavy gale 'has been experienced all day, and the thermometer is low. Patea, Last Night. A certain amount of damage has been done hj" the gale, the most serious item being the partial unroofing of the Harbor Board shed. The walls of the building had to be stayed, but it is now regarded as safe, the force of the gale having somewhat abated'. Telegraph poles were blown down, one at the station., another at the pilot station, and two at Williamson's hill towards Kakaramea. A repair gang was organised by the postmaster at 7 a.m., and there has been no serious interruption of communications. One pole is reported to be down at Waverley. Apparently no damage of important dimensions has been done about the town save that above mentioned. Steamers running up the coast had a boisterous time, and the Aorere and Kapuni, which arrived thia morning, crossed the roughest bar they have ever encountered. The Kiripaka is thought to be sheltering somewhere along the coast. She left Wellington last night. . Ohinemuri, March SO.

The river overflowed its ' hanks a» ! 7.30 this morning, aad the streets of the township are flooded to a depth of three feet in places. The' water is j running down the main street at a great rate, and the lower parts of the town are being rapidly submerged, i Mo3t of the Shops in the main street j are flooded, and houses in Rye Lane, Puke and Junction Roads are more or less flooded. So far no very gieat damage is reported, but the flood Is bound to do a good deal of damage. March 30. The storm forecasted by the Government Meteorologist, duly arrived. A s/trong easterly gale is raging with heavy rain. At 9 o'clock this morning 3.89 inches of rain was recorded for the previous twenty-four hours, mnkiug a total for forty-eight hours of 6.89 inches. Feilding, March SO. A violent south-easterly gale struck the town early this morning, accompanied bv rain. The gale continues today, and is' the worst experienced here for a considerable time. So far no damage is reported. Napier, Last Night. Storms of exceptional severity are raging over the district. The rain that has fallen during the last three day* totals nearlv five inches. The rivers are in heavy flood, but there is bo lerious danger at present.