FIERCE GALE AT AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1315, 19 December 1911, Page 4

FIERCE GALE AT AUCKLAND.

CHEAT DAMAGE DOXE. (By Tdcsranh.-Press Association.! . ' Auckland, December 18. A fierce and destructive westerly gal* raged in the. city and suburbs and in Ihe ]>i)H of Auckland from the early hours of this morning until well on towards evening, when the force of the wind abated. 'Ashore great damage was effected in. every direction. Trees were uprooted and blown down, branches were torn from tlio trunks and flung for long distances, j-heets ol corrugated iron were blown fiom roof tops flowers were nprooteil, aiid fences levelled to the earth. Hero and there brick walh collapsed, chimneys were Inirlod to the ground, and platogla.>o windows in several shops were rod'.ie.cd to heaps of useless particles. From' the out-districts come reports of damage to orchards, where the plum and apple crops were just about ready for market, and suffered to a serious extent, Some little excitement was created about 10 a.m., when the Tnion Comli.my's big hulk broke adrift from her moorings and bore down on the Quern Street_ Wharf. Fortunately the Devonr.hrt I'erry Company's tm;' Pelican succeeded in stopping the drifting vessel boforo anv damage had been done. The lues LyHoltou and Pelican have been busily engaged throughout the liny securing scows and other small \osfelq which were, dragßixl from their mooring. A trip wos.ninde. to OraVei wrlv this morning to cnt«h two of silr. Gco.' Xiccols scows, which were drifting, and .\ few minutes aiter the tup's return th« scow Gannet sent, up signals of distress A large number of launches and own l™t« are ashore nt Devonport and St. Heliers boy, and damage to other smaU craft is reported on overv baud.