GALE AT AUCKLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 May 1925, Page 5

GALE AT AUCKLAND

MUCH DAMAGE CAUSED.

' TRAINS HELD UP.

(Per Press Association.)

’ AUCKLAND, May 22.

A heavy gale swept oyer the city and suburbs to-day, doing extensive damage to partly erected dwellings. Seaside cottages jn 'some areas were also razed to the ground. The gale was accompanied, by heavy rain, which has now eased off. , Several launches in the harbour were driven ashore. Many houses in the city were shaken to the foundations, and many windo.ws were blown in. The gardens fared badly, the plants in many cases being levelled to the ground.’ The wireless aerials in various parts of the city were badly damaged. /

The full fury of the gale struck the city at daybreak, after six hours of pouring rain. The collapse of a temporary structure which housed the London Mechanical Exhibition wa's one. of the most spectacular events of the storm, the buildings collapsing like a pack of cards. The Main Trunk expresses are waiting in Auckland station for word that slips on the line' in the south have been cleared away. It is hoped to get them away before midnight, though whether there will be a delay on the journey south is not known locally. '* At Surfdale and Waiheke three cottages were blown away, and another at Howika. • .. r

Routh seas in the harbour made things lively for the ferry boats, which, . .however, were able to keep to the time-tables. . Considerable inconvenience will be 'caused to the shipping in port, as the delay is universal, in yieW. of. the cessation of cargo operations throughout the day. It is likely that the worst is over, as the evening is clear, with a rising glass. FLOOD AT WANGANUI. .

WANGANUI, May 22. There is a heavy flood in the river .o-night.