GREAT STORM.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1921, Page 5

GREAT STORM.

WORST FOR MANY YEARS.

TELEGRAPH LINES DOWN,

EROSION IN RAILWAY YAKD. DAMAGE AIjONG THE FORESHORE. During Thursday night North Taranaki suffered, from one of the fiercest gales experienced for many years. The barometer had been very low during the day, and the wind which was about nor s west, developed into a westerly of almost hurricane force. In the country areas instances of damages to buildr ings and the tearing off of roofing iron from sheds were not, uncommon. In New Plymouth the foreshore bore the pounding of a terrific sea, and the heavy swell was increased by the fact that spring tides prevailed. The rise in the tide waa probably a record in-local figures. Yesterday morning revealed many instances of damage wrought, the sea-front from Moturoa to East End bearing marks of the violence of the waves of a. more or less serious nature. Quite a number of interested townspeople made trips to the various localities during the day to secure a personal glimpse of the results, and the sightseers received much buffeting on occasions as the wind continued practically unabated throughout the day. Slight interruptions in the train services in the morning occurred as the result of some wash-outs of considerable size at the railway yards, the sen penetrating the -stone, protecting wall in a number of places, and in two instances the- main line was endangered. The foundations of the overhead pedestrian bridge across the railway at the foot of Egmont Street werj scoured, the stone steps leading down on to the beach being smashed up and the railway line which runs along close to c-he stone wall was undermined. Further along, near the goodsheds, this line was also considerably damaged over a total length of several chains at intervals. It was at this spot that the washon extended back to the main line, and there were some big breaches in the boulder wall. The line on the seaward side, which suffered most, is used for accommodating rolling stock and it was fortunate for the department that a considerable number of trucks of coal, which were drawn up on the line during the week, had been removed on Wednesday. 4 SCENE AT THE PORT.

The permanent way gang commenced work about six o’clock yesterday morning and repairs were effected by means of sand bags, enabling the mail train to get away shortly after eight o’clock —-about throe quarters of an hour late. The morning train from south at 10.50 was held up for a few minutes in the railway yards and passengers disembarked before reaching the station. They were unfortunate enotigh to encounter, heavy’ showers of rain at this time. Repair work proceeded throughout the day and the railway officials did not anticipate any further trouble.

, Heavy seas broke over the breakwater and wharf at Moturoa, during the night, and yesterday morning, when the tide was at its full. Big rollers surged round the Sugar Loaves, sending spray many feet np into the air and then rushed onwards to pound against the breakwater and the line of extension. The sea was lashed into foam, which v.i»s guttered up by rhe wind and filled the air like snowflakes.

An inspection of the wharf and breakwater showed many instances of the force of the seas and wind. At the foot of the wharf a big gap was scoured out in the sand, uncovering the piles for some feet. On the breakwater blocks (weighing 28 tons) had been shifted bodily some feet; the heavy, wooden skips, used in connection with loading stone on to the Tommy King, were strewn about, having been stacked up against th? breakwater; and part of the wharf had a covering of silt and small stones washed over the wall. The employees’ shelter shed was well pounded by the st/as, and the eastern end waif was stove in, while the. piles supporting it on the seaward side were exposed to a good depth by the wash of the water. The shed had a somewhat similar fate about four years ago. •Shipping fared well, the vessels in port—the big collier Waitomo. and the small coastal steamer Kennedy—riding safely at their berths daring the gale. The * Corinna, which arrived off port shortly before eight o’clock yesterday morning, was ordered to awa it a moderation of the weather and anchored in-

side of the protection of the breakwater. Smaller craft in the ' harbor were considerably tossed about and Mr. Newton King’s motor launch, the Nuku, broke from moorings during the morning and was lost in the big seas; it is feared the launch has broken up. A couple of dinghys belonging to the Harbor Board, were also stove in.

DAMAGE ON THE FORESHORE. Along the beaches there were evidences of the high marks reached bs' the tide. A considerable portion of sand banks backing Ngamotu beach were washed out, and the waters reached up to the beach cottages. Native inhabitants in one of these are reported to have become alarmed during the night at. the inrush of water and they made a retreat. On the point near Kawaroa the seas beat insistently, and at the Municipal Baths water found its way into the bathhouse and debris was scattered round the precincts of the building. There was no appreciable damage, however, the stone protection work, which was strengthened some time ago, standing the buffeting well. A few big stones were washed up in front of the building, in addition to much silt. Beyond the (railway station Woolcombe Terrace was subjected to the full force of the gale, and the effect is noticeable all along the cliff, many crevices being apparent in the bank. In some portions the walk is dangerous for pedestrians. Further eastward the seas came in with force at the foot or Nobs Line and in this vicinity debr.s was left scattered around on some pro- ! perties. , . The East End pavilion appeared in a, somewhat precarious position after the storm, as the sea had cut into the earth bank np to the corner post of the building and also demolished the bank to within about two teet ot the steps of the band rotunda, this representing a depth of about 20 It from the original wooden protection. A gang

of workmen Was busily engaged during the day on the work of putting in stone groynes under the supervision of the borough engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook). Though considerable erosion' has been taking place at tho Reserve the sea reached a much higher point on this occasion than previously. TiiLEGRAPH The gale was a source of much trouble to the telegraph Department owing to the interruption of the communications. The stormy weather for some days past had caused frequent breaks in the North line, and communication with Auckland direct at present is not possible. On the South line a break occurred yesterday morning at a point-between Inglewood and Stratford, but this was remedied late in the day, enabling communication to be kept up with Wellington. Auckland messages will come through Wellington. In other parts of Taranaki there were frequent instances of damage to the lines, and in fact the storm has been the worst in tliis direction which the telegraph authorities have experienced for some time past. Among other routes affected the OpunakeHawera line and several between towns on that coast were brought down by the gale. Electric light lines were also interfered with. On Thursday night a shed by tho Clemow Road beyond the Fitzroy stores was caught by a violent gust of wind and was hurled against an electric light pole, bringing the lines down and placing a considerable area of Fitzroy in darkness. Men were immediately sent out and restored the lines, the interruption lasting for about two hours. In one or two other portions of the borough lines were broken, but this was the most serious incident. There were some signs of moderation in the weather last evening, though a stiff wind prevailed with intermittent showers. Ae the tide was not at full till nearly midnight any further. instances of damage will not be revealed till to-day.

ROUGH CONDITIONS IN MANAWATU. A TERRIFIC THUNDER-STORM. Palmerston N., August 4. Pa I merston North and the greater por.tidn of the Manawatii district have been vieited by a series of storms during the past few days, accompanied by heavy rains, which have caused a good deal of the lower country to be inundated. I‘kirly on Tuesday morning a terrific thunderstorm was experienced around the Foildihg and Palmerston districts, accompanied by extremely heavy hailstorms, and the rain has continued with very little, interruption since. The result is that most of the low-lying land along the railway line between I Levin and Tokomaru is under water, and the stock has had to be removed to iiighcr ground. The Manawaiu and Oroua Rivers are in heavy flood, and are still rising.

SOAKING RAIN IN WAIRARAPA. RIVERS B-ECOME RAGING TORRENTS. Masterton, August 4. During the past few days Masterton has been visited by a remarkable succession of The fourth storm was experienced to-night, slightly to the north of the town, the lightning being exceptionally vivid. All yesterday and to-day soaking rain has fallen, both in the hills and on Ihe plain, and the Waipoua and Ruamahunga rivers are in high flood. At ■» o’clock to-night paddocks lying j between the north end of the Municipal Park and the two bridges over the Waipoua were some feet under water. The embankments were all that prevented houses in the vicinity from being flooded. The river itself was a raging torrent.

Reports state that the RuamaJiunga River is even higher than the Waipoua. Much land lying along its upper and lower reaches has been inundated. Apparently farmers had fair warning to shift their stock to higher levels, for only minor losses in th’is connection have been reported. Rumor has. it that a returned soldier settle some distance out of Featherston lost 50 pigs in the flood waters.

At 9 p.m. the flood in the Waipoua River appeared to be subsiding, and as the rain had then ceased it was hoped that serious damage had been averted.