GALE AT WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 7484, 31 March 1888, Page 4

GALE AT WELLINGTON.

» One of the severest storms which has been experienced at Wellington for years swept over the city on Wednesday evening, accompanied by a tidal wave which rose m the harbor to within 18in of the breastwork. The storm caused very heavy damage in town, and the Government railway line between Kaiwarra and Petone is so badly damaged that it isJanticiFated a large part will have to be reconstructed. The huge seas running up the channel from the Heads directed the waves against the railway line along Petone Beach, and besides damage to the mi'way line carried away seveial boatsheds in Oriental Bay. Juat opposite the wharves it tore down the side of the Te Aro Baths and drove ashore several yachts. The freezing hulk Jubilee lying off Petone wharf parted her moorings, and was driven against the wharf. She had 6,000 carcasses of meat aboard. It is not thought any serious damage was sustained. Iron roofs, windows, and chimneys also came in for attention, and several small buildings were wrecked. The railway line between Wellington and Petone is a perfect wreck, and some three or four months will elapse before complete communication is restored. Meanwhile Cobb and Co.'s buses cease traffic, and have been engaged by the Government to undertake the work of forwarding passengers from Wellington to Petone. It is almost incredible that the sea in one night, or rather one tide, could have made such havoc as it did. The solid concrete wall beyond Ngahauranga is carried away, and the heavy atone pitching has disappeared altogether in one or two places. Chain after chain has been washed completely away, and in other places the direction of the line altered. During the storm the water rose 4ft higher than was known before. At the Pilot Station it was also very high, and all around the neighboring coast.