SEVERE NORTH-EAST GALE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 May 1934, Page 6

SEVERE NORTH-EAST GALE

Auckland Province Swept

810 SEAS ON WAITEMATA

Roughest in Memory

TORRENTIAL RAIN FOLLOWS

SERVICES. INTERRUPTED

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

f - AUCKLAND, May 3. The most severe north-easterly gale experienced for a long time swept ovei; the -Auckland province- to-day accompanied by heavy ram. It did minor damage to buildings in many districts, inter!erred with electric power, telegraph and telephone services, and caused delays to shipping. The gale was particularly strong in Auckland harbour. It was accompanied by a very, high tide at 9.45 a.m., and the conflict between wind and ebbtide at midday produced, a short heavy sea which greatly inconvenienced harbour traffic.

Captains of ferry steamers stated that for a time the sea was the roughest they had ever experienced. Boats fought their way across the harbour, throwing up clouds of spray which at times rose well above their wheeL houses. The services were maintained very creditably with little delay. The steamer Ngoiro, however, broke down, off Northcote wharf through thefailure of her water-cooling system. Some of the passengers became needlessly alarmed at one •tage, and donned lifebelts. The steamer lay-to until repairs were made, and returned to the city under her own steam.

The Pupuke, which was sent to maintain, the timer-table, got into very rough water off Birkenhead, and laboured heavily for some minutes, to the discomfort, of the passengers.

The vehicular services were run under great difficulties. Several hulks and scows went adrift or dragged their moorings, as' did launches and small yachts. Losses among the pleasure craft," however, -amounted to only three or four small boats. NAVAL, MAN] OVERBOARD The seas on Milford beach were very heavy at high tide, moving large quantities of sand. A concrete boatshed was undermined, and most of one w;all and the floor collapsed. - The ‘gale caused some trouble to the Navy, but there was only one accident. A pinnace from the Diomede was crossing the harbour to Devtmport in the teeth of the gale and had reached midstream when a seaman lost his grip and was- pitched into the sea. The petty-officer in command promptly put the boat about, and after a minute and a half of clever manoeuvring in the choppy sea the man was hauled aboard none the worse. There is usually a good deal of naval l launch traffic across the harbour in the morning for the conveyance /of stores and other purposes.. After the accident Rear-Admiral Burges Watson ordered that no further boats should he dispatched, and until evening communication was kept up by means of the ferry service.' Telegraph and telephone services in all parts of the -province were interrupted by the gale, many breaks being caused by trees and other objects being blown across the lines. An augmented staff of linesmen was kept busy all day, but as the work could not be done at night on account of the danger from power lines, some services are still interrupted. It is expected’ these will be repaired to-morrow. In practically all canes alternative routes were arranged. TELEGRAPH INTERRUPTIONS The telegraph, line froni Auckland to Whangarei"'wais broken at Maungaturoto, while another break occurred in the Warkworth-Waipu line. The service between Rotorua and Whakatane and between Waihi and Tauranga also was discontinued for .some time, while minor interruptions occurred in the Auckland-Hamiiton line. Several other breaks occurred in less important circuits.

Telephone circuits north of Auckland were seriously affected by -the storm, j The four lines to Whangarei were broken at 10.30 this morning, but one was restored at I p.m. Others are still out of action. Both lines to Dargavillo wore broken and have not yet been F.&paired. DAMAGE IN WAIKATO. HURRICANE FORCE, HAMILTON, May 3. An easterly wind of hurricane force swept through the Waikato this afternoon, leaving a trail of minor damage, mamly levelled trellis work fences, sign’s, and clothes-lines. Considerable damage' and inconvenience occurred. Toll and telegraph communications on the southern and eastern l|n«« were interrupted in three places as a result of falling Jreos.

LAUNCH RESCUES YACHT.

HUGE WAVES OFF CAPE BRETT.

AUCKLAND, May 3. Advices from Russell state that the heaviest seas and highest tides for many years occurred during the storm last night and to-day. At Cape Brett such weather is seldom experienced'. The seas were mountainous and Commander, Montague’s yacht Vision, which was lying off Russell dragged her anchors toward the islands facing Paikia. A launch went to her assistance and towed the Vision back to safety. " , At the annual camp of the North Auckland Mounted Rifles at Kensington Park. Whangarei, the men spent an unenviable night. Two large unoccupied tents were blown down, and most of the sleeping tents were partly under water. Two houses in Whangarei suffered broken windows from exceptionally strong gusts of wind durimr the night. Residents at Onerahi state that the gale and high seas running in the harbour are the worst experienced for many years. Many dinghies and launches broke from their moorings and were recovered only 'with- considerable difficulty. . . Falling trees and the high Wind have caused a tremendous trouble to telephone communication throughout the north. An official stated that faults weye everywhere and linesmen have been out all day.

ELECTRICAL STORM

QUEEN STREET FLOODED

AUCKLAND, May 3. Abnormally heavy rain which fell shortly before 10 o’clock to-night, following an electrical storm with vivid lightning flashes and heavy thunder, caused flooding in the lower portions of Queen Street and' subjected theatregoers to much inconvenience and discomfort.

In. many places the water was over a foot deep, aryl people alighting from trams or hurrying to ferries were compelled to wade throsgh a torrent. The water overflowed the kerbs as far down as Victoria Street, with the consequence that it was inches deep from footpath to footpath, even across the tram tracks. It was at' this hour that crowds were leaving the theatres. People were huddled in their hundreds on footways, not daring to step into the stream and amazed bv tlie unprecedented sight. Taxi-drivers made a-harvest .

SHIPPING DELAYED

MANY VESSELS SHELTERING

AUCKLAND, May 3. Numerous delays have occurred to shipping as a result of the weather off the coast, and many small vessels are sheltering. Several overseas vessels also have reported delays owing to the bad weather. A message was received by radio from the Abel Tasman, which was due to-morrow from- Sydney, that slio was hove-to 187 miles from North Cape. Provided the gale abates she 7 will probably arrive on Saturday morning. The Texas Oil Company’s tanker New Zealand, - which -is' on her way from Lvttelton to Auckland, also has been delayed and is now expected' to arrive to-morrow evening. Work on the waterfront was suspended to-day and several-vessels were delayed. As a result, the departuie of the Monowai, which was to have left at 3 p.m to-morrow for Sydney, has been postponed until 4 p.m. The Blue Star Line steamer Trojan Star will not now sail until Monday. Advice has been received from the naval mine-sweeper Wdkakura, which was to have carried out full calibre firing practice in the vicinity of the Omaha Cove, north of Kawau Island, that she is sheltering m Whangarei harbour. The vessel has a number. or naval reservists on board undergoing training. She was to have returned to port to-morrow, but is not now expected to arrive until evening.