STORM DAMAGE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 305, 11 December 1929, Page 7

STORM DAMAGE

100,000 TONS OF SHIPPING LOST STORIES OF FINE RESCUE WORK, ENGLISH SOUTH COAST TOWNS SUFFER. (British Official Wirelees.) (Received 11, 10.5 a.m.) Rughy, Dec. 10. A. serious view is taken in the marine insurance market circles in London of the losses suffered at sea during the great gales of the last five days. Although no ship of first importance has figured in the casualty reports, it is anticipated that the claims resulting from the storm will be very heavy. It is estimated that about 100.000 tons of shipping have been lost, stranded or in distress, but most of the vessels concerned are of the tramp class. CONGESTION AT LLOYDS. Rarely have so many telegrams been posted at Lloyds as was the case when 200, relating to a large number of different ships, were received. The full extent of the damage caused to shipping may known for over 12 months, for many of the vessels damaged have proceeded on their voyages and will be repaired abroad. A FINE RESCUE.

The most serious casu 'ties reported yesterday were those of the Glasgow steamer Vblumnia, which went down it the Atlantic, and the Italian steamer Chieri, which sank off Ushant Those rescued from the latter were found clinging to the wreckage. The Volumnia’s crew was saved by the steamer Manchester Regiment. whose captain has received many wireless messages congratulating him and his crew for their splendid rescue work.

There is considerable anxiety regarding ten steam herring trawlers of Lowestoft, which are stormbound in the North Sea and a broadcast appeal tc vessels in the Southern North Sea was made yesterday by wireless to keep a look out for those vessels, SKIPPER DROWNED. It was revealed this morning that the captain of the Swedish steamer Frieda, whose dangerous plight off Deal caused anxiety yesterday, had been swept overboard by the gale and drowned. The Frieda had been run into while at anchor and tugs were standing by when the captain was lost. The Frieda, which with great difficulty was boarded by lifeboatmen, was berthed at Dover this morning. DAMAGE ON LAND. Minor damage has been done to property in the south coast towns. Scores of buildings along the cliffs at Bournemouth have suffered and six chimney stacks collapsed in one gust. Colliery work is stopped in the Forest of Dean. WEATHER FORECAST.

The renewal of southerly gales caused by a very deep depression approaching from the Atlantic is, according to the weather forecast, likely to be severe on the south-west coast of Britain. Meanwhile, although a heavy swell has been running, an interval in gale violence has enabled many ships to have their steering gear mended and continue their voyages or make for ports when the damage was serious. The steamer Tyne Bridge, for instance, has repaired her gear and cancelled the cull for assistance, and is returning to Falmouth to land one dead and two injured men. THAMES RISING.

Since yesterday the Thames has risen nearly one foot at Wolseley and the rate of the flow during the last 24 hours was 9,000,000,000 gallons, as compared with the average flow of 2,000.000,000 gallons for this time of the year. The authorities have established a special watch on the river so that adequate warning can be given if danger arises of floods breaking through the embankments. In London there is no immediate fear of this happening but the floods in the upper Thames valley are higher than when it occurred last year and more rain is forecast. At Reading, which is almost surrounded by water, the river is 26 inches above normal and at Maidenhead four feet above normal. OVERDUE TRAWLERS. All except one of the overdue Lowestoft steam trawlers, which had been stormbound in the North Sea, have now reported or arrived in port. VOLUMNIA’S CREW SAFE.

(United Press Association—By CableCopyright.) (Received 11, 9.5 a.m.) New York, Dec. 10. A report from Boston announces that the rescue in mid-Atlantio of the crew of about 40 following the abandonment of the storm-battered British steamer Volumnia is revealed in confirmed reports received by the local steamship agents from Glasgow. The despatches stated that all hands were safe.

CONTINENTAL REPORT. iVnited Pres Association—By Cable - Copyright > (Received 11, 10.15 a.m.) Paris, Dec. 10. Seventy-one seamen are feared to have been drowned in the present storm in the English Channel and ch the Atlantic coasts. Two of a crowd on the Dieppe landing stage watching the arrival of a steamer were washed off by a huge wave and disappeared. Earliei storm cables appear oh page 5. PACIFIC STORM CENTRE. (Received 11 .12.45 p.m.) Suva, Dec. 11. The hurricane centre is north _of Suva and is apparently travelling (Continued at Foot of Next Column).

south-east. There is a heavy gale at Suva. The barometer registers 29.15. Taveuni, with the barometer at 28.923, is aparently receiving the brunt of the storm. There are heavy floods in the Navua and the Rewa rivers The water is within six inches nf the floor of the Nansori sugar mill and is still rising No serious damage has yet been reported. It is hoped that the storm centre will pass to the north of Fiji.