THE GALE AT AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 142, 10 March 1908, Page 8

THE GALE AT AUCKLAND.

DAMAGE AT DEVONPORT. ANXIOUS TIME FOR VESSELS. (BY TELEGRAM—MIESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, March 9: Tho easterly galo continued without abatement yesterday, and rain fell almost incessantly. It is still very bad on tho coast, but local conditions have improved considerably. Tho weather has cloarcd up somewhat, tho heavy rain having taken off whilo the harbour is smooth. . . ' Dovonport suffered greater damage by tho gale than was at first apparent. From Cheltenham beach to Stanley Bay the foreshore is strown with logs and portions. of battered boats and sundry other wreckage. The breastwork at'.the southorli end of Chel•tenham beach has been demolished, and the trees on the reservo.havo been undermined, with tho result that many of them toppled to • the* ground. . The North Shore Rowing Club's wooden breastwork, and some'l2ft. of mado ground, have been swallowed up by tho sea. _ Tho Borough.Reservo at the foot of- the .Victoria Wharf 'was converted, into a. miniature lako. Tho fire-bell tower at tho corner of Vauxhall Road and Church Str&t, was ; blown down, i STORMY VOYAGES. .BY /TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL COHRESPONDENT. Auckland, March 9. •The Zealandia, which arrived from Gis--borne last night, experienced very thick weather on the passage. As tho heavy gale was blowing in her favour it did not so much affect her, but the thick weather greatly embarrassed tho navigation staff, who had a very anxious time. It was impossible to make out the land -yesterday afternoon, and tho Captain' is reported to have stated to one of tho passengers that he did not think they' would see Auckland that evening. However, a break in the weather occurred which enabled the skipper to pick up his bearings, and tho Zealandia reached Auckland about soven;o'clock .last night, after a creditable run of 23 hours from.Gisborne.

The s.s. Wgapuhi was delayed at Wliangarci until morning, and did not roach Auckland until 10.30 o'clock the same' afternoon. _ i The Kanieri 'returned to Auckland shortly after starting for Whangarei. . ■ , The Claymore, bound from -Auckland to Hokianga _ and Onohunga, is sheltering at Whangarei. The-New Zealand Steam Ship Company's steamer Orari was,'duo at Auckland from Waitara on Saturday night, and has not yet put in. an appearance, having no doubt stood, well out from tho coast during tho 1 thick'weather.

Tho Wiinmora, from Sydney,- was several hours lato in reaching Auckland, having been detained by bad. weather. The' Wiinmora, left Sydney oh AVednosday last, and on the' following day ran into' a heavy .'easterly gale, with heavy head seas, against which sho had to contend for tho remainder of tho trip. ' Tho decks wore constantly flooded, and a quantity : of minor fittings, such- as small woodwork and .skylights, were brokon. Tho Now : Zealand- coast was reached: yesterday afternoon, ; but tho\Three Kings and other well-known landmarks,were obscured by the heavy woathor. , Tho North Capo was rounded last night, ■ and, there tho vessel encountered the worst of tho gale. Heavy beam seas washed'the decks, and 0110 particularly large, wave broke down one companionway, and considerably damaged another;' The sea caused great excitement on board, and tho report was spread round that a ma-n had been washed overboard. ■ On investigation this happily'proved to' be incor- : rcet. • Part 1 of the Captain's' 1 bridge wascarried away, and some .woodwork on the forepart'• of- tho lower dock./ 1 Tho weather continued thick/and stormy throughout the night, and to arrival, as abovo. ■ A couplo -of the St. George's Bay craft met with misadventure on Saturday' last,'. A. small oil launch was piled up .on the reef, and broken to ..atoms, .and tho yacht Katie; -earned away hor,: moorings, and brought up. at the'inouth of.'the sewer outlet, where she, was securely anchored. ,• She is.full of sewage, but ,has probably sustained; little,' if' any; damage. . , A heavy , galo was experienced at Whangarei, 'where'it rained for forty-eight hours. Launches on the river'were sunk, and some broke away. Three pine's in'the-Churoli of England ground wero; blown down, and broke two tombstones and memorial windows in'tho church.