THE CYCLONE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1918, Page 7

THE CYCLONE.

WREAKS ITS FURY" ON AUCKLAND. BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY SMASHED. BOATS AND LAUNCHES DESTROYED

One of the worst storms that have ever occurred was experienced on the Auckland harbor on Monday night (states the Star). The wind commenced to rise from the north-east yesterday afternoon, and increased to a howling gale la-st evening, which reached its height shortly after midnight. It is impossible to estfmate the full extent of the damage done, but it is safe to say that it runs into many thousands of pounds. The waterfront is strewn this morning with flplintered wood and pieces of wreckage—all that remains of boats, launches, and yachts that have been destroyed during the night. In parts the scene is absolutely indescribable, so great is the damage. Along Freeuia-n'kS Bay amd right out along the Ponsonby beaches the storm appears to have done its worst. The beaches are lined with pieces of wreckage. SCOWS PILED UP. At the back of the Parker Lamb Timber Company's mills a number of scows were piled practically on top of each other. Althougl some of them had two anchors out and were to all appearances safe in the afternoon, the gale during the night proved too strong for them, and they were dashed in towards the mills. Some three or four hundred logs in the booms had also fcroken loose, and these, too, had 'helped in the destruction. Two or three logs had got piled up against the mill, and these seemed to act as skids up which the storm first drove a small punt witfi a crane on it. The scow Lena. Gladys, owned by Captain Kasper, seemed to come next in order, and was driven up the logs and on to the top of the punt. The extent of 'her damage was not ascertainable at the .time of going to press. To add to the confusion the scow Onerahi was driven up alongside, and sbored up by logs, careened to one side. She is owned by Captain Carey, and has on board' 25 tons of the bridge iron intended for Tauranga. In her position this is bound to strain her severely; her stern is partly under water, and the extent of her damage can only be estimated when a close examination has been made. Against this mass of confusion the Priestman dredge, recently purchased by the Government from the Harbor Board, bad also been driven though as fur ns could be gathered ?he had not suffered any great damage. The scow Huon Belle had also been driven in against the mass, and added still further to the confusion- The greater part of her stern appeared to tie torn away but any damage beyond that was not ascertainable. Under all this the Tamure, which has been used to convey the refuse from the fish market up the harbor, had somehow got jammed and all that could be seen of her was her nose sticking up out of the water as though she were trying to live up to her name, which translated, means sclmapper. Right under the scow Lena Gladys, too, was a launch, of which all that could be seen was a few of the timbers. MACHINERY SINKS. At the Kauri Timber Company's mills the logs that had broken adrift had apparently done some damage. The engineering shed, which had been built over the water, had had some of its piles taken from under it, and half of the flooring had fallen in, together with some turning lathes and other machinery, A water-fipe had also been broken, and in consequence t'he works had to close down until repairs had been effected. The scow Moa, owned by the Leyland O'Brien Timber Company, which figured recently in the sensational escape of the German prisoners from Motuiiii, was also slightly damaged, her timbers being strained. A little further along, close to the Parker Lamb mills, the scow Sunderland was practically a complete wreck, and the whole of her side appeared to have been broken in. Speaking of the scows which had been piled up, Captain Kgsper stated that he left tha Lena Gladys and the Onerahi apparently safe yesterday afternoon. They had two anchors out and plenty of chain. The scow Violet, owned by Captain Clare, during the night had .performed what would be termed an almost impossible feat. In some way she had been driven right over the logs and had found a snug resting-place right in the centre of them, where she seems to have safely outridden the storm-

CONFUSION AND DISASTER. Further along the waterfront, towards St. Mary's Bay, the damage was equally great. The Gas Company's jetty had been destroyed and a scow driven ashore just alongside, though sho did not appear to be damaged. The anchorage for the yadlits and .launches in this bay, however, presented a scene of confusion and disaster- Launches, yachts, and boats appeared to have been literally hurled ashore with the fury of the gale and dashed to pieces, s'liero was scarcely a yard that was not < littered with wreckage. The Areta'was on the shore, more or less a wreck, and a little further along was a beautiful pew yacht built by Mr. Bender. She was reclining on her side among the rocks, where she had evidently been tossed by the waves. The auxiliary yacht Edith had been smashed to pieces, and (practically all that remained of her was the engine with which she was fitted and a few of the timbers. The scow Moona had got away from her moorings, and had drifted in among the yuchts. For a time there was every possibility of her going ashore, but some of her crew who got out to her this morning were able to stop her. WEST END BOATING OLUB. At ,the West End Boating.Club's shed the damage had been equally great. The bottom floor of the shed had practically all been torn away and splintered to matchwood. Some of the supports of «. the top floor had also gone, and this floor was sagging in the centre to such an extent that it was not safe to venture on it. Nearly all the boats had been broken to splinters, and only two remained intact- Three racing boats were smashed —a best-and-best. « racing four, a racing double sculls, a double scull, and three four-oars. The club's pleasure boat had completely disappeared, and they could not even find any of ' her timbers. It was as though, sjwe-

one had come along v.itli a giant hammer and smashed everything to splinters. YACHTS TOTALLY SMASHED. At the PoiiKonby Rowing Liuh's, shed the damage v.ai; equally great Pieces of 1 'boats and wreckage were jiilnl en each oilier in inextricable contusion. The Zita had a couple of holes hi her. The Medora was practically a total wreck. The Winsome was badly strained, the Rosie totally sniashe.!, while the (jlwia had been driven ashore and was partially buried in the sand. SHELLY BEACH BACUS. The Shelly Reach Paths also suffered from the storm. The iron fence which enclosed them Jiad bet.il completely blown away, and at one time it was feared that the building would blow down. At the bathing sheds the heavy seas played havoc with tha embankment that had hem built, and more '.han half of it wag washed away, the boulders iieing strewn along the beach, HAMILTON ROAD BEACH, On the I each at the font of Hamilton road there was a scene of wreckage. A large shed, ownet by Mr. 11. Fountain, dentist, in which three ?mall boats used by Y-MCA. boys were housed, was washed away, and fhe boats destroyed. A shed on the property of Mr. C. P. Bennett, land agent, was destroyed, the launch Volunteer was stranded on Central road beach, and small craft were ashore all along the foreshore in that vicinity. At Heme Bay a number of bathing sJieds were demolished.