GALE IN THE NORTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 112, 14 May 1929, Page 8

GALE IN THE NORTH.

■ WORST SINCE THE WILTSHIRE ! RECORD TIDE AT WHANGAREI SHIPPING ENDANGERED. ('By Telegraph.—'Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. , The Whangarei district and North ; Auckland generally are storm-wrecked 1 and drenched. Heavy rain fell all day yesterday and I last night, and it was accompanied by . a howling south-easterly gale, which • wrecked unstable buildings, uprooted trees, and whipped the waters of Whangarei Harbour to a tumult. The rainfall for the 2-i hours up to 9 a.m. to-day was 2.17 in, making a total of li.SOin for the month so far. At Ruatangata the fall was 1.7 Gin, and it was 2.78 in at Ivamo. Since Saturday the barometer dropped daily, until to-day it reached the low reading of 29.52. Little damage has been done in the town. Some trees and wireless aerials were blown down. The Hats near Provan's factory and the Whangarei electric laundry are under a foot of water, and 12 acres of land between Morningside Road and the railway has been flooded. It was in the harbour that Whangarei felt the storm most. The spring tide vesterday, backed up by wind and flood water, was the highest seen at the town wharf for many years. The river at one time stretched from in front of the Riverside Store on the far bank to the Harbour Board Buildings. The pohutakawa trees on the esplanade were covered and many jetties were lifted out of position by the rising waters and waves, which were three feet high. At the town wharf several pwners slept aboard their craft. Mr. Weston's launch broke one mooring, and fishermen sleeping in their boat were disturbed after midnight by the. Omana, which had drifted .away and bumped into them. This was particularly lucky, as it awakened the men. They boarded the boats and took them to safety. Tho Claymore did not discharge cargo yesterday and delayed her sailing until to-day. People at Whananaki and Tutukaka affirm that the storm is the worst seen on the coast since the Wiltshire was wrecked. Flakes of froth as big as a man's hand were blown half a mile inland and . beaches everywhere are littered. Fishing boats are sheltering at Whale Bay, near Matapouri, their owners having thrown a good catch overboard rather than risk the storm. The steamer Awaho, which was coaling at Onerahi, had to make' up the river for shelter at Kioreroa, where she is high and dry on the mudbank. The dislocation of telegraphic and telephonic service is the worst for some years. Railway services are running almost as usual and the lines remain practically 'unaffected. Patrolmen in some low-lying districts have advised that water is rising near the lines, but none has been submerged.