TERRIBLE STORM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 268, 11 April 1914, Page 5

TERRIBLE STORM.

HOKITIKA VISITATION. THE SEA INVADES THE TOWN. BUILDINGS SWEPT AWAY. Hokitika, April 8. Last night will long be remembered by the people of Hokitika as the wildest night oh record. A fierce nor'-west gale, accompanied by heavy rain, desscended upon the town about 5 o'clock. The gale gradually f increased in fury until midnight, and a tremendous sea raged on the waterfront. Between 9 and 10 o'clock the tide was at its height, and mountainous waves thundered upon the beach, rising higher and t higher as the gale increased. The big seas were soon pounding against the back fences and rears of the premises facing Rcvell street, and tremendous damage was wrought. It is stated that fully fifty feet, of th« properties were swept away by the waves, and fences, outhouses, and the buck portions of tha business premises were soon being carried along the. beach by the raging torrent. Great damage was done at the rear of the Empire Hotel, live fully furnished rooms being washed away. Many other premises suffered, and the amateur protective works that had been constructed by the residents were speedily demolished. WRECK AND CHAOS ON THE BEACH.

The sea at length gradually receded, and an indescribable scene of confusion and chaos mot the eye this morning. Fences were smashed into all shapes, buildings were wrecked, and parts of them were overhanging the bank which the sea had Cut. Numerous houses were washed away entirely. The southern end of the beach presented a dire scene. Here and there were heaps of timber, dozens of boxes, large pieces of walls, twisted corrugated iron, trpes-, vegetables, pieces of furniture, long strips of linoleum, and thousands of pieces of smashed timber. Lying here and there among the debris could be seen outhouses quite intact, while a complete roijif, or a whole side of a shed, hulpcd to make the scene of desolation. The gale also did considerable damage in the town. The top was blown off the grandstand at tlie racecourse, and many windows were blown in, and buildings UHi'oofed and damaged. The galo went down in the early hours of the morning, but the sea increased, and at 8 o'clock this evening a tremendous surge was running. Fortunately, however, there was no wind, but, as it was, «onsidcrable <lainage was done. PREMISES SMASHED TO MATCHWOOD.

A large storeroom, belonging to Messrs McKay and Sons, had been undermined by the previous night's storm, and when to-night big breakers pounded upon its foundation, the shed was soon badly kinked, and a few minutes after S p.m. a specially big wave reduced it to matchwood.'lt dropped with a heavy thud into tlie angry cauldron below. The sea continued to make along the beach, and additional damage was done. At about 10 o'clock the huge curly breakers were beating high upon the shore, and, so great was the force, that just after 10 o'clock the end of McKay's showroom was so undermined that it was carried down into the waves by its own weight, and tlie breakers quickly cleared the room of its stock. The sea is still running mountains high despite tlie absence of wind, but (here are fears that a souther];,- gale may gel up an t*" tides approach spring tides. Then there is no predicting what will happen if the heavy sea and very full tides igain fresh fury hv a gale that is forecasted.

Several very large waves came over the bank betweoE the beach and town, and a surging torrent ran down into the main streets and overflowed the channelling.

KKSIDKXTS OVERAWED AND HELPLESS.

The residents, especially in Rovell street, are overawed arid are quite helpless. Hundreds of pounds worth of protective works have been demolished, and all the labor rendered useless I),T the encroachments of the sea.