STORMS IN THE NORTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 March 1936, Page 7

STORMS IN THE NORTH

AUCKLAND BEACHES SUFFER ABNORMAL SPRING’TIDE , [per press association.] AUCKLAND, March 26. Carried to a record height by a strong easterly gale, the spring tide at Auckland, this morning, did great damage. The tide gauge showed a level of 13 feet S inches, above low water, the spring tide's previous record being 13ft 4 5-8 ins on March 1. . 1918. Extensive damage, greater than caused by the cyclonic gale early last month, was done by the phenomenally high spring tide, backed by a strong nor-easter along the Korth Shore waterfronts, this morning. At the peak of the tide and storm 12 feet combers pounded and crashed on to the beaches and over the stonewall embankments, to wash buildings from their foundations, to silt over and wash out’ reserves, roads, and private property. Many of the, smaller boats were smashed to splinters, and a tiip round the beaches revealed damage in various forms, running into many hundreds of pounds. It was a magnificent and rare spectacle for North Shore residents, between 9.30 a.m., and 10 a.m., when with the tide and storm at the height of its fury, waves broke previous bounds, and with great showers Ot spray, encroached on areas genei ally regarded as safe from the hazardous sea. Property owners, helpless to prevent disaster, watched with anxiety, the force of the storm and all that it took before it. Though the damage on all sides was extensive, only in a few cases did the water actually enter homes. No areas on the North Shore along the waterfront entirely escaped havoc, though for the most part, it was centred at Milford and Cheltenham. Unprecedented scenes were witnessed at certain points on the city waterfront? Between Cox’s Creek and St. Heliers, when the tide was at its highest, considerable damage resulted, although it was not so extensive as that which occurred during the gale on February '2. A number ot small craft were battered to matchwood. Others were sunk and several were washed ashore. An erosion took place on the inner side of Waterfront Road in Hobson Bay, and a portion of the footpath was undermined.

BOATS DAMAGED. Shops and were flooded at ' Kohimarama. The flood tide covered the jetty in St. Mary’s Bay to a depth of about two feet, and damaged some of the planking. Three small craft stored on the jetty were washed off, but were subsequently recovered undamaged. Near the West End Rowing Club’s sheds, W. Cooper’s 14ft yacht “Koala,” was completely wrecked,, both her sides being stove in. L. Bell’s 14-footer “Eclipse” met a siml " lar fate. At Ponsonby wharf, an 18tt launch and seven dinghies were submerged, but only a comparatively small amount of damage resulted. Huge planks and pieces of iron, composing the protection walls near the base of the wharf were torn away and scattered on the beach. Several small boats, including the 14ft “Kea” were capsized in Sloans’ Bay, and the water rose on a level with the floor of the Richmond Cruising Club’s sheds. During Wednesday night, the 35ft keeler “Daisy,” broke away from her anchorage near Devonport Naval Base, and was discovered this afternoon adrift near Point Chevalier. She had nearly foundered, having sprung several leak’s. Craft in Mechanic’s Bay escaped lightly, although for a considerable period this morning, huge rollers washed'over the- tide-deflector, completely hiding it from sight. On the exposed seafront near the Akarana Yacht Club’s sheds, the 16ft yacht “Rangitiki” had been da>heil on to the breast work, and broken to pieces in the boiling surf. A few yards away, two fourteen-footers “Raider” and “Dryad” were awash, their masts torn away. A fairly large sailing boat was piled up on the rocks near Point Resolution, and a launch was thrown on to the railway embankment in Hobson

——— . , Bay. - For about two hours high seas, ■ dashed over a portion of the water- , front road in Hobson Bay, and the water was between 12 and 18 inches deep in places. A number of cars broke down while trying to negotiate this stretch and had to be towed away. How high the tide rose can be gauged from the fact that the wall surrounding the Parnell Baths was completely submerged for a period, even the tops of the posts being underneath the surface. At the boatsheds, near the mouth of Oreaki Creek, the water was about three feet over the level of the floors. The 16ft yacht “Waiana” was completely wrecked when she was tossed ashore at Orakei and no trace has been discovered of the 18ft mullet boat “Rita,” which was moored nearby. About one-third of the concrete seawall at Mission-Bay was destroyed when the waves washed across the •flat in front of shops, and caused flooding in the roadway. The flooding "was even greater at Kohimarama. Wave after wave crashed over the protection wall and banked up at the, corner of Kohimarama Road and the esplanade. Several shops were flooded to a depth of ten inches, but as stocks had been placed on high shelves, no damage resulted. Water swept into gardens, and covered the streets with seaweed and silt. Several dinghies were swamped but none was destroyed. Practically no .destruction occurred at St. Heliers, although a large diving punt was dragged up the beach. DAMAGE AT THAMES. VARIOUS PREMISES UNROOFED THAMES, March 26. A cyclonic gale struck Thames last night. It raged with fierce intensity in ‘the early hours of this morning, leaving a trail of damage in its wake. Everywhere, fences, trees, wireless masts, and sheds were demolished, and roofing iron was torn off in all directions, but in only a few instances was there very serious damage to property. The gale was at its height between 2 and 4 a.m., when exceptionally fierce gusts were experienced, shaking the buildings like an earthquake. At the office of the “Thames Slar” at the corner of Sealey and Mackay Streets, all of the roofing on the southern side was torn off. The sheets of iron were scattered for a distance of

a quarter of a mile down Sealey Street careering on to the waterfront. The interior of the ’"Star” machine room was flooded, and the paper stocks and machinery were damaged by the water which poured in through the roof. Tarpaulins were procured to cover the roof, pending repairs. There has been no power from Arapuni works since about one o’clock, hut a restoration was expected this afternoon. Meantime the Borough Diesel standby plant is operating. A house on Queen Street, on the waterfront, occupied by an elderly woman, Mrs. W. Kerby and her adult son, was partially demolished about 2 a.m., a chimney crashing through the roof of the front room to the ground, and the whole roof of the front portion of the house crashed to the floor. Fortunately, neither was sleeping in the first room, (but Mrs. Kerby, in the front room, had a very narrow escape. Nearby her house, a big oak tree crashed between two houses occupied by Messrs. C. B. Lockett and R. Lawrie. Luckily both escaped damage. The roof of the Bowling Club’s pavilion in the central area was blown off. A house on Parawai Heights, occupied by Mr. Thomas Keith and was alSo badly damaged. The roof was blown off. A cowshed.was demolished. A number of plate glass windows in Pollen Street were smashed. At Tapu, 16 miles along the coast, towards Coromandel, a shanty occupied by Mr. Jack Hollows, an elderly miner and pensioner, blew over, ‘pinning the' occupant for several' hours before he was rescued'. He Was admitted’ to Thames Hospital with internal and head injuries. A big timber mill at Tapu had its roof blown off. Reports from' other districts show similar damage was done to fences', trees, buildings, power and telegraph lines. A scow in the Waihou River, at Turua, Hauraki Plains, was driven right inshore. Another was stranded on' a sandbank.

There was no outlet by telegraphic contact this morning, owing to numerous breakages by fallen trees.

Heavy rain followed the gale, but about 11 o’clock the weather was much improved, with signs of clearing. The Municipal’ electricity staff and telegraph and power linesmen are busily engaged in restoring power and communications.

COAST ROAD DAMAGED

THAMES, March 27.

Heavy seas at high tide, last night, between ten o’clock and midnight, pounded the Thames coast road, causing considerable damage and flooding waterfront areas. The worst portion of the damage was between Tararu and Thornton’s Bay, a distance of six miles, where the road in places was undermined, and partly washed away. Almost the whole stretch is strewn with large boulders, driftwood and sand, in places over a foot deep. The road in parts is only negotiable to oneway traffic. The. telegraph line along the foreshore is down. Several poles snapped. Properties fronting the various bays were damaged. Fences and gates were torn away between Waiomo and Tapu. Further up the Firth, some-ten chains of the stone retaining wall was demolished. The estimated cost of replacing is £5OO. AT TE aroha TE AROHA, March 26. Yesterday’s north easterly storm, accompanied by heavy rain, struck Te Aroha with cyclonic force. Scores of chimneys were blown down, massive trees uprooted, and many buuflings in all parts of the town unroofed or considerably damaged. The District High School, Catholic School, two Railways Department houses, Railway Goods shed, the Bonnie Glen, and Railway boarding houses, and’ dairy factory suffered considerably. Several residences were partly demolished. Numerous sheds and garages were blown down. At Waihou, A. Moore’s shed was uproofed. Several pigs and two cows were electrocuted. The storm was the worst on record.