VIOLENT GALE.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 319, 14 January 1879, Page 2

VIOLENT GALE.

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. The extraordinarily close and sultry weather which has prevailed during the last few days has been terminated somewhat abruptly by a gale of unusual severity. All yesterday it was evident that an early change was impending. The barometer fell steadily, and in the afternoon a small rain set in, which increased during the evening until at 9 p.m. it descended in almost tropical torrents. About midnight the wind began to rise, and at daybreak a furious N.W. gale was blowing, which did a good deal of damage in the city, several buildings in course of erection being blown down, others unroofed, chimueys and fences levelled. About 7 a.m a large sheet of corrugated iron roofing was torn off Mr. K. H. Hunt's new brick store on Lambton Quay and hurled with terrific forco along the street, fairly " taking possession " of the thoroughfare, and compelling everyone within reach to make a hasty retreat. Oae or two persons, indted, were narrowly missed by the iron sheet, which probably would have beheaded auybody with whom it came into collision. The number of hats blown off..u^terly surpasses computation. In one instance a gentleman was severely hurt and bruised about the face by a violent blow received from a hat which had been whisked from the head of another person fully 100 yards away. Wot withstanding the fury of the gale, the shipping ia harbor and at the wharf, QQjJa{ as we have been able to learn, sustained «c remarkable inimuuity from damage which seems the special feature of this port, but on the coast some mishaps have occurred which are referred to elsewhere. In this city itself, probably, the chief sufferer will be Mr. Edwards, the contractor for the new Foresters' Hall which is being built in Tory-street The framework was completed, and two sides were already covered with galvanised iron, but just bafore 5 this morning, the whole structure came down with a tremendous crash, the heavy timbers snapping and splintering as if they had been clothes-props. Mr. Edwards, who was present, had a very narrow escape with his life. Hardly a beam has escaped damage, so complete is the destruction, and Mr. Edwards' loss .is estimated at about £500. The new United Methodist Free Church, which is in course of erection in Courtenay Place, narrowly escaped serious damage. The west wall framework was up, but a lew braces still remained to be put in, when a heavy gust suddenly overthrew the whole, the men who were at work below'fortunately escaping injury. The braces which' wore already fixed, however, prevented serious damage, the frame falling bodily and comparatively gently. The sum of £20 will fully cover the loss of the contractor, Mr. Sidow, as very few of the beams were broken. The north wall fell against the schoolroom at the roar, but did no damage.