A VIOLENT SQUALL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8726, 27 November 1913, Page 7

A VIOLENT SQUALL

AUCKLAND HARBOUR SWEPT,

VESSELS .DRAG THEIR ANCHORS

(Per Piess Association.)

AUCKLAND, November 25. One 1 of the most violent squalls experienced in Auckland for several years swept across the harbour shortly before 4.30 p.m., and although it only lasted for about 10 minutes, in that time vessels dragged their anchors and drifted about in all directions.

The wind was blowing a moderate gale from the north-west, accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning and long peals of. thunder. At 4.20 p.m. the storm burst with great fury over the waterfront, and it was almost impossible to stand up against the wind.

On Hobson Wharf, wjhich is exposed to any bad weather from the westward, the storm swept the wharf and its vicinity with startling fury, and for about half an hour there was a general mix-up of ferry steamers, trading scows, ketches, launches, and many other craft.

There is an unusually largo number of sailing craft in port at the present time, the majority being anchored' to the westward of the Hobson Wharf. When' the storm broke almost every vessel at anchor dragged, and fairly raced down the harbour in the direction of Hobson and Queen's Wharfs. ■ ; Urgent messages were sent from all directions for assistance, and the Harbour Board's tug Te Awhina, the firefloat and several launches and the Devonport Ferry.Company's tug Young Bungaree had a merry time for fully two hours towing drifting craft to safe anchorage out of the fairway. The ferry services were slightly disorganised for several trips, and the boats experienced a lively time battling across the harbour. Approaching Hobson Wharf the steamers appeared to catch the full force of the gale, and on several occasions were blown almost on to the new ferry tee at the Queen's .Wharf before being under control again. •■k.

Several launches broke adrift and raced down the harbour. So far as is known, they were eventually secured and towed into places of safety. The larger steamers at anchor in the stream, rode out the storm safely. A dredge which was at work off the retaining wall ■ at Freeman's Bay commenced to drag, and brought up across the bows of the scow Moa.

The suction dredge, which has been engaged pumping mud into the new reclamation, broke adrift, with the result that the big pipes and their pontoons were jumbled about in all directions. . ■' . . .

The first squall was succeeded by another, but shortly before this most ofs the vessels had been secured and towed to safer anchorages. When the first squall broke, the schooner Huia swept down the harbour and brought up across the end of the Hobson Wharf. .

■ The ketch Tararawa brought 1 up against the Queen's Wharf, as also did the ssow Caed Mille Failthe, while the scow -Seagull was brought to a standstill in line -with the end of the Queen's .Wharf, right in the track of the ferry boats.

Several other scows and ketches drifted a considerable distance, many bringing up against various wharves. The scows Vesper and Excelsior, at anchor off Orakei, between Bastion and Orakei wharves, dragged anchor during the height of the gale. The Excelsior was carried into Bastion Wharf, to which some damage was done, after which she drifted ashore. The vessel had a portion of her bulwarks torn away by with the wharf. The Vesper escaped the wharf and drifted ashore.

Several shop windows were broken in the 'city, and trees were blown down in the suburbs. At Mount Albert a pine tree was blown across the railway line, find a trajn was pulled up just in time to avoid a collision.