SEVERE STORM AT NELSON

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28231, 20 March 1957, Page 14

SEVERE STORM AT NELSON

Damage To Buildings On Foreshore

(New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, March 19.

A north-easterly storm which hit Nelson about 11 o’clock this morning, an hour before the spring tide, caused many thousands of pounds worth of damage to foreshore buildings, coastal road embankments, and to launches driven ashore on the Boulder Bank in Nelson harbour.

The Nelson Yacht Club’s large boatshed, lifted completely off its piles by the heavy surge in the harbour, collapsed and was washed away. Some sections of wall were saved. Three launches which broke off their moornings were, by 1 p.m.. washed up on the Boulder Bank. Crews of ships in port had to strengthen lines and attend to fenders. The captain of the steamer Titoki put to sea and rode out the storm, which lasted for more than an hour. Roads Flooded In the harbour a similar procedure was adopted by a number of fishing and pleasure launches. The wind backed up a big tide at the head of the bay, and caused flooding of roads and private properties all round the coastline. Extensive storm damage has been reported from 'orchards in the Moutere hills area, where some orchards were severely battered and tons of ripe fruit was strewn on the ground. Most of the damage appears to have occured in the Mariri, Riwaka, Brightwater and Redwoods Valley areas. Inspectors of the horticultural division of the Department of Agriculture this afternoon made a survey of the affected areas.