WESTERLY GALE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 197, 22 July 1931, Page 3

WESTERLY GALE.

DAMAGE AT MANAWATU HEADS. (From Our Own Correspondent). FOXTON, July 21. The damage done at Foxton Beach, by the westerly gale was even more serious than was at first reported. The high tide, backed up by the gale, found its way into Rush Flat and inundated the dairy farms of Messrs Wilson, Francis, Bell and Perreau, the water covering the roaway half way to the beach from Foxton and causing a scour of the metal just below Mr Perreau’s farm. The water also inundated the sections at the eastern end of the beach, there being between twelve and eightseen inches of water around Messr Hartley’s! and McPhail’s houses and all along the back streets. The access leading out on to the beach near the store is completely washed away and logs and drift wood lie strewn about in all directions. The swings were washed from their foundations and crashed down, narrowly missed the front windows of a shop. The sandhill which extended along the western waterfront lias been cut back about fifteen feet. To the east the scene is one of desolation as the full force of the gale struck this locality. There remains no indication of where the road was, The sand ridge which ran back towards Mr Baker’s house has also been cut back at least fifteen feet. The protecting fence erected to protect the road access has disappeared. Mr Baker’s house, which is occupied by Mr and Mrs Doyd, has been completely undermined and the front portion is hanging over the beach. A person could walk upright under the structure in the front. The fence which previously existed along the front of the section belonging to Mr Jones, of Feilding, lias been washed away and this house is undermined also and will have to be removed, together with Mr Baker’s house. Mr A. Batten, who resides in a cottage, had a most tryin gtime during the gale. Hhis cottage is also now at the water’s edge. The tide swept right through the house on Saturday night and Mr Batten was unable to get any sleep and feared for the safety of the building. In the morning bo was unablo to open the front dom. owing to largo logs and drift wood having become piled up against the building overnight. Other houses on the eastern end of tho beach were all isolated by tho tide and surrounded by water. Tho houses to tho west were more or less sheltered by tho north spit and did not suffer damage. The Power Board’s employees wero busy 'all day yesterday effecting repairs, whilo tHo Post and Telegraph Department’s gang was also attending to damaged lines. Mr W. E. Barber (chairman of tho Manawatu County Council and a member of the Foxton Harbour Board) made an inspection of the damage on Sunday and yesterday a gang of men wero set to work to reconstruct a road giving access to the river foreshore near the store. The newly constructed Sanatorium Road was unaffected by the gale and provided the only means of access to the beach. The galo .will not do tho bar any harm. It has always been found that floods tend to silt up tho entranco of tho Manawatu and alter the channel and that until a good westerly is experienced tire channel fs somewhat difficult to navigate. The damage which has resulted from tho recent flood will thus bo remedied without delay.