SEVERE GALE.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19391, 17 August 1928, Page 12

SEVERE GALE.

SHIPPING BUFFETED. WAHINE TWO HOURS LATE. All shipping on the East Coast from Auckland to the Bluff has been delayed during the past two days by the strong southerly gale. The ferry steamer Wahine arrived at Lyttelton yesterday morning at 9.10, after a very rough trip. From the time of leaving Wellington on Wednesday night until sho entered the Heads at Lyttelton the Wahino had to contend against a fierce gale, with a big head sea. Although by no means the roughest trip sho has had in the ferry run, the vessel was badly tossed about, and the passengers had an uncomfortable time. Passengers for the south and for the West Coast wero able to connect with the respective expresses, the Invercargill express being delayed till ten o'clock, but luggage and mails missed the connexion. The British Imperial Oil Company's tanker Paua arrived at Lyttelton late yesterday afternoon, after a 48 hours' trip from Wellington. She was badly buffeted by the gale, but, like the ferry steamer, came through unharmed. A number of ships which have been held up at other ports by rain, are expected to arrive at Lyttelton to-day.

DAMAGE AROUND WELLINGTON. WASHOUTS ON HUTT RAILWAY. [THE PBBSS SpecUl Service.] WELLINGTON, August 16. Wellington suburbs and the Hutt Valley district adjacent to Wellington- have suffered -serious damage as the result of a severe gale and heavy rain during the last 48 hours. The rain has apparently seen its worst, but the wind is still blowing hard. ; i A rolling sea has been driving straight in from the heads and* the railway lines between Petone and Wellington are out of commission through seas undermining the track in, a dozen places. The outer line in lengths up to 100 feet is hanging in the air with many smaller suspended lengths. Tho inner line is similarly situated in places. '''.'••' The'rain has caused a number of slips, the most serious one being on the Hutt road at the Tawa Flat tunnel. Shipping suffered severely. Telephonic and electrical power and lighting services were blown down and low-lying areas have been flooded, principally at the new settlement at Lower Hutt and at Petone and Miramar. The washouts on the Hutt Valley line are far mbre serious than any that have occurred for many years past. Some railwaymen say the washouts are the worst ever experienced in New Zealand. The total distance of line affected is about four miles. Passenger transport to Hutt Valley was carried on entirely by buses. Passengers for north of Petone from Wellington go by bus from Wellington and take the train from Petone.

A great mass of rotten rook has given way. high above the moutl. of J the Tawa Flat tunnel, the spoil being distributee! right across the bitumen track of the Hutt road. The Hutt river is in heavy flood. Several Petone streets and the Petone Ee'creation. Ground were flooded. At the new railway settlement ; Eastern Hutt, acres of water covered the ground; A house in Island Bay, had its roof torn off and numerous Wireless masts have been Blown down. _ ._ ,_.-. ' The Maori arrived'from LytteTton o\ hours late after one of her worst passages There has been very little damage on the waterfront.