WORST OF WINTER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 219, 28 June 1947, Page 6

WORST OF WINTER

BAD STORM IN WELLINGTON SEA WALL BREACHED (P.A.) WELLINGTON. .Tune 27. Throughout last night, to-day and to-night Wellington has stood the blast of the worst southerly storm experienced this winter. Heavy seas shewing much discolouration from flood waters of tlie Hutt River and from streams pounded against the harbou.* waffs. Flooding of a minor nature occurred in parts of Wellington, Petone, Hutt and Upper Hutt. Gutters on many roads overflowed, and particularly on the Hutt Road motorists after dark found themselves running into sheets of water which sent up spray obscuring their vision, and in some cases causing mechanical defects which resulted in the cars being abandoned. i Tiio main force of the gale, which blew in gusts up to 05 miles an hour at Rongotai and 7G miles an hour at the Meteorological Office, Kelburn, ,was felt at Eastbourne and the hays, where the waves broke over the sea wall, spilling on the roadway and sending showers of spray over.passing vehicles. It was here that the main damage was clone when the sea wall was breached in several places. Heavy seas which battered the sea wall between Kaiwarra and Petone caused undermining of the railway line and it became necessary in the afternoon to divert all traffic to the inside line. At times on a portion of the track between Ngahauranga and Petone both sets of rails were awash, and the outer set was continually smothered in foam in most places. Tonight only one track could be used to the Hutt Valley, and there were some delays. It is expected, if the weather improves sufficiently to-day, that six or seven hours’ work will suffice to carry out repairs to bring the other line back into service. i Many Trains Delayed Slips on the Jolinsonville line between Wadestown and Ngaio interrupted the rail service early to-night. It was not possible to attend to the slips during the darkness, but it is expected that they will he cleared by mid-day to-morrow. Trains on the main trunk line between Wellington and Paekakariki were also delayed as the. result of damaged electrical equipment along the route. The 3 p.m. express to Auckland was an hour late reaching Palmerston North, and the departure of the Limited was delayed about an hour. There was water over the tracks at Porirua, but traffic was getting through. i The Rongotai aerodrome was unserviceable all day, gusts of winds up to 95 miles an hour being recorded. Paraparaumu was in much better condition, and all planes were able to leave from there in the morning. The Auck-land-Paraparaumu-Christchurch Dakota service Avas interrupted at Paraparaumu at 3 p.m., and the Dakota will leave the aerodrome for Christchurch at S a.m. to-morroAV.

The Hutt, River was rising steadily late to-night, but was still two feet below Tuesday’s maximum. Nine houses near Moonshine Road were in danger of flooding, and it may be necessary to evacuate them if the river rises during the night. Petone felt the full force of the gale, with seas pounding esplanade roads. . ■The Hutt Valley suffered flooding through the inability cf drains to cope with the surface water. Shipping Re-arranged Gale-force i winds, whipping the waters of Cook Strait into mountainous seas, and the period of zero visibility kept shipping in Wellington harbour practically at a standstill yesterday. There were no departures from Wellington yesterday and the only arrival was the Ilinemoa at S a.m. from Lyttelton. The Tamahine, which was to leave Wellington at 2.15 p.m. yesterday for Picton, was kept in port because of the heavy seas at the heads. Her sailing was postponed till this morning. When the day dawned this morning, however, conditions remained the same and the Tamahine is now to sail at 2.15 on Monday, leaving Ticton for Wellington at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

The I-linemoa, which was to have \sailcd for Lyttelton at 7.45 last night, was held at Wellington overnight and did not leave until 8.45 this morning. The Rangitira arrived on schedule this morning from Lyttelton and is to make the return trip to-night, while the Hinemoa is to sail from Lyttelton to-night and is due at Wellington to-morrow. All sport in Wellington, except harrier racing, has been postponed.