THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 8459, 18 April 1888, Page 2

THE WEATHER.

A DISASTROUS GALE. The storm which burst so suddenly oa Christchurch on Tuesday, March 27, compelling the cricketers to catch up their stumps and fly to the shelter of the pavilion, was raging over the whole Colony itom Auckland to the Bluff. It was one of those rather rare occasions on which a furious southerly gal* makes itself felt from one end of New Zealand, to the other. The temperature fell suddenly from North to South, but the change was, of course, felt with marked severity in Canterbury, where the thermometer a few days before was verging on SOdeg and SSdeg in the shade at noon. At the Bealey there was snow on March 2S, and at 9 a.m. the thermometer had just reached the freezing point; on both coasts of this island a very heavy sea was running, and a regular gale with heavy squalls and hail-storms was blowing from here to Stewart Island. The barometer, however, showed a decided tendency to rise in the South, its lowest reading, when the observations were taken, being at Wellington. In the town itself during March 28 the weather was excessively squally, the squalls being accompanied with hail, sleet, snow, and rain. A good deal of mischief must have been done amongst orchards where the apples had not been gathered. Along the river here and there the willows have been stripped of large branches, and in Hereford street ft gum tree at the bask of the Bank cf New South Wales was blown across the telegraph wires, and fcsd to be sawn in half before it ccu'.d be taken off. Just before noon the wind get under the roof cf the large stable, formerly occupied by Messrs Leach and Lewis, and recently used for the horse j cf the Canterbury Tramway Compsny, and carried away a large portion ot the galvanised Iron. The roof rose and f-.1l several times, at each elevation shaking the whole structure, and throwing down a large quantity of the fciick'vork of the offices fronting towards Worcester street. The sheets of iron were carried into Gloucester street, but fortunately, struck no one. Several men and horses were inside the building, but none of theta were injured. A large drag, standing close to the South entrance, was struck by toe falling debris, and sustained some darmgo. Oa the whole, the accident Ims not bee a as serious as at fiist, it seemed Lkely to prove. A foux-ivomed horse in Salisbury street, belongiog to Mr Bowker, was literally cut in two by a large tree which was blown down upon it. Fortunately it was unoccupied, tee last tenants having left on March 27. As might have been expected, considerable damage has been done to telegraph and telephone wires. During the morning, communication was interrupted with stations bouth of Oamaru, and on the Waiau line North of Amberley. Many of the interruptions were caused by trees being blown across the wires, but in some instances posts and wires were blown down. This was the case on the Lyttelton line. The 11.20 a.m. train from Port was stopped after leaving Heathcote Valley station, near the Lyttelton water

supply works, by the wires having been blown across the rails. Bight peats were down, and the officials and passengers by the train had several minutes’ hard work in getting the lino clear. Several of the wires were broken, and the train was delayed for a quarter of an hour. In Hereford street West, the Springfield road, and other places, the lines were broken by trunks or branches of trees falling on them. On March 28 teh graphic communieafon was interrupted with all stations except Blenheim, Nelson, Wellington, and the West Coast-stations. The last-named were worked by way of Blenheim, the direct wirea being interrupted. Our Lyttelton correspondent writes:— The gale which began just before 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, continued throughout Tuesday night and the greater part of Wednesday. Throughout Tuesday night and Wednesday morning the gale waa accompanied with heavy showers of rain, hail and snow, and the caps of the hills, both on Diamond Harbour and also on the Lyttelton side of the Port were covered with snow. The gale is spoken of by old residents as tho eevercst experienced for many years, while s fall of snow in the month of March is also a rather rare occurrence. The steamers Jane Douglas and Akaroa. which made a start on their usual weekly trip to Akaroa on Tuesday afternoon, both returned to Port nest day, the former making her appearance first. From Captain. Whitby, of the Jano Douglas, we learn that ho succteded in getting as far as Le Boa’s Bay, but finding that it waa utterly Impossible to make any headway against the terrific gale and sea, he deemedit prudent to turn back. Steaming as far back as Okain’a Bay, the remainder of the night was spent at anchor under a point known as West Head. Captain Harris, of the Akaroa, also found the gale too much for hla little craft, and accordingly went Into one of the Bays for shelter. A ketch which had been laid up in Pigeon Bay was wrecked. At one time it waa almost impossible to see across the harbour. The waves wa-hed over the breakwatrr, and for a time it seemed as though all the vessels moored at the wharves would part their lines. The ropes were taxed to the utmost. The schooner B. and U. Cameron was breasted off alongside the schooner Zior at No. 6 wharf, and when the wind increased, she dragged her anchor, and was driven stern first into the breastwork. B er stern bumped heavily against the piles, and as each sea struck her, and dashed her with great force agains t them, it waa evident that if she were left alone great havoc would soon be made. A lino was got out ahead, and put on board the ship Blengfell, and the Harbour Bvivrd employees, together with the crew, hove her ahead a little, not, however, before her stern was completely smashed in. Another few minutes would have seen her sunk, and probably a total wreck. She is the property of Mr T. MTatosh, and is a very old vessel. This, altaough the worst item on the list of damages to vessels in Port, was not all. One of the Harbour Board’s mud hoppers, which was moored to tbe western breakwater, parted the thick chains by which her stern waa secured, and swung round to her anchor. Fortunately, no other vessel was in the way, or the damage would certainly have been serious. She was remoored again after considerable trouble. The ketch Annie and the yacht Lota both dragged their anchors, and received slight damage before they were re-moored. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s hulk Derwent parted her moorings, but was remoored in time to prevent any damage being done. All these mishaps occurred between 2 and 3 p.m,, and after that hour the gale appeared to be moderating slightly, although still blowing considerably over the average strength. A REMARKABLY HIGH TIDE. At Sumner during the recent gale, there was experienced the highest tide that tbe oldest inhabitant remembers to have seen. The waves are said to have come 3ft over a portion of the estuary road, and right up to Mr Monk’s house. In the town of Sumner, the tido came up as far as the front of Godso’s Hotel. Mr Day was out in his boat, bub deemed it prudent to coma on shore. He left his boat;, as ho thought, secure, but the tide carried it away, and totally wrecked it. At New Brighton, too, an unprecedentedly high tide washed up and cleared away the sand as if it had been arrauged to free all the buildings fronting on the beach. Naturally, the owners of houses to which the wav s came so close were very anxious, and, in some instances, they took measures to prevent mischief. Mrs Hamilton had recourse to the expedient of laying down a number of sand bags at the corner of her property where the tide was threatening to eat away the foundations of her coach house. Mr Effey’a baths withstood the fury of the tea very well, and the main building appears to have been unshaken; but the fencing has all been carried away, with the exception of the posts. A new house, recently furnished by Mr Hancock, waa leas fortunate. The water washed away the piles upon which it retted, and the principal room sank some feet. It was filled with sand to the extent of about ten tons. Mr Hancock deemed it prudent to have the brick chimneys taken down, but as the house has evidently been well put together, he is of opinion that it can be reinstated nt a cost of some £2O or so. Borne of the other houses along the sea frontage present an unwonted appearance, as the sand which has been for years drifting against the fences has been entirely removed. It ia thought by soma of the old residents at New Brighton that this accumulation of sand is by no means an unmixed evil, hut that in all probability it saved from detraction the houses it protected. There appears to bo little room to doubt that there was a tidal wave along the coast. EFFECTS IN THE NOETH ISLAND, WELLINGTON, March 30. One of the severest storms that has been experienced hero for years swept over the city on Wednesday evening, lb was accompanied by a tidal wave which rose in the harbour to within eighteen inches of the breastwork. The storm caused very heavy damage in town, and the Government railway line between Kaiwarra and Petone is so far damaged that it is anticipated a large part will have to be re constructed. The channel from the Heads directed the waves against the railway line along the Petone beach, and beside the damage to the railway lino, the water carried away several boat sheds in Oriental Bay, just opposite the wharves, tore down the side of the Te Aro baths, and drove ashore sßvoral yachts. The freezing hulk Jubilee, lying off the Petone wharf, parted her moorings and was driven against tte wharf with six thousand carcases of meat aboard. It is nob thought that any serious damage has been sus- ; taiued. Iron roofs,windows, and chimneys ‘ also came ia for attention. Several small ; buildings were wrecked. j Tbe railway line between Wellington and Petone ia a perfect wreck, and some ' three or four months will elapse before j through communication can be restore d. I Meanwhile Cobb and Co.’s 'busses ease the j traffic, and have been engaged by the Government to undertake the work of for- j warding passengers from Wellington to | Petone. It ia almost incredible that the ! sea in one night, or rather in one tide, could have mode such havoc as it did. The solid concrete wall beyond Ngahauranga ia carried away, and the heavy stonepitching has disappeared altogether in one or two places. Chain after chain has been washed completely away, and in other jilaces the direction of the lino has been altered. The cable across Cook Strait is broken, and the only communication with the South Island is vi& the Wanganui cable. The Hutfc Park railway line has suffered by the gale, and those attending the races will have to go through Lower Hutfc. The attendance is expected to be seriously effected The heavy gale has caused serious interruptions to the telegraph wires, and Wellington has been practically isolated from communication with all other porta of the

Colony. The weather to-day is fine, with a strong wind blowing. During Wednesday’s storm the water rosafouv feet higher than was ever known before at the pilot station. It was also very high all around the neighbouring coast. SEEIOUS FIRE AT OXFORD. [l-BOJT OUB OWN CORKF.SROKDKNT.] OXFORD, April 11. A fearful Nor’-wesn gale has been blowing last night and to-day, destroying trees aud driving the dust and stones so as to render it almost impossible to face it. A fire started in the bush near Eossiter’s, and, driven by the fierce wind soon travelled for miles with extraordinary rapidity towards East Oxford; and spreading through the rushes and old tree-stumps on the cleared land, has seriously endangered the township. All down the Bay road fences are burning on both sides. The inhabitants prepared for the worst, by removing their furniture, and working hard amidst the blinding heat and smoke, which was so thick as to obscure the sun, which looked like a fiery red hall in the sky. A house belonging to Mr Neithe caught fire, and waa totally destroyed, with the furniture. Ic waa insured iu the New Zealand Office for £l5O. A straw stack in the township, close to the house, and belonging to Mr V. Roy, was also burnt, together with a lot of timber. The stable was on fire several times, and was only saved with the greatest difficulty, as was the dwellinghouse. The gorse fences were also on fire, on both sides of the road, and had not the wind changed suddenly to the Southwest the houses of Messrs Davies, Peters, Allpreas, and Nalder would have been in the greatest danger, and it is impossible to say where the fixe would have stopped, as the sparks were flying about in all directions.