Cyclonic Gale in the North

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 73, 27 March 1936, Page 7

Cyclonic Gale in the North

Terrific Seas Pound Auckland Waterfront

Damage Greater Than Cyclone

RARE AND MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE

Per Press Association. A "IKLAND, Last Night. Carried to a record height by a strong easterly gale the spring tide at Auckland this morning did great damage. The tide guage showed a level of 13ft. Bin, above low water, the spring tides’ previous record being ''3ft. 4 5/Bin. on March 19, 1918. Extensive damage, greater than that caused by the cyclonic gale early last month, was done by the phenomenally high spring tide backed by a strong nor’easter along the North Shore waterfronts this momnig. At the peak of the tide and stonn 12 feet combers pounded and crashed on to the beaches and over the stone wall embankments to wash buildings from their foundations, to silt over and wash out reserves, roads and private property. Many smaller boats were smashed to splinters and a trip 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 their fury the waves broke their previous bounds and with great showers of spray encroached ou areas generally regarded as safo from the hazardous sea. Property-owners were helpless to prevent the disaster and 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 casos did the water actually euter 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. Helier’s when the tide w T as at its highest. Considerable damage resulted although it was not so extensive as that which occurred during the gale on February 2. A number of small craft were battered to matchwood, otherswere sunk and several were washed ashore.

Erosion took place on the inner side of the waterfront Toad in Hobson Bay and a portion of the footpath was undermined. Shops and gardens were flooded at Kohimarama.

The flood .tide covered the jetty in St. Mary’s Bay to a depth of 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 14footer Eclipse met a similar fate. At the Ponsonby wharf a 18ft. launch and seven dinghies were submerged, but only a comparatively small amount of damage resulted. Huge planks and pieces of iron compering tho protection walls near the Mse of the wharf were torn away ant, scattered on tho beach.

Several small boats, including the 14ft. Kca were capsized in Sloan’s Bay and the water rose level with the floor of the Richmond Cruising Chib’s sheds.

During Wednesday night the 35ft. kecler “Daisy” broke away from her anchorage near the Dcvonport naval base and was discovered this afternoon adrift near Point Chevalier. She had nearly foundered, having sprung several leaks. Craft in Alcchanie’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 “Rhngitiki” had been dashed on to the breastwork and broken to pieces. In the boiling surf a few yards away two .14-footers tho “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 the high seas washed over a portion of the waterfront road in Hobson Bay and tho water was between 12 and IS 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 the Orakci creek the water was about 3 feet over tho level of the floors. Tho 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 Alission Bay was destroyed when the waves washed across the flat in front of tho shops and caused flooding innthe 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 tho Esplanade. Several shops were flooded to a. depth of 10 inches; but as the 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. Helier’s although a large diving punt was dragged up the beach.

Thames Balfered by Hurricane

Houses Unroofed, Trees and Fences Down . POWER CUT OFF FOR DAY l’er Press Association. THAMES, Mareh 26. A cyclonic gale struck Thames last night and raged with fierce intensity till the early hours of this moruiug, 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 only in a few instances was very serious damage done to property. The gale reached its height between 2 and 4 a.m. when exceptionally fierce guests were experienced, shaking buildings like an earthquake. At the office of the Thames Star, on the corner of Sealey and Mackay streets, all the roofing on tho southern side was torn off and shoets of iron were scattered for a distanco of a quarter of a mile down Sealey street, ing on to the waterfront. The interior of the Star machine-room was flooded, and tho paper stocks and machinery were damaged by water which poured through the roof. Tarpaulins were procured to cover the roof pending repairs. There has been no power from Ara* puni since about 1 o’clock, but restoration is expected to-morrow afternoon., Meantime the borough Diesel standby plant is operating. A house on the Queen street waterfront occupied by an elderly woman, Mrs. W. Kerby and her adult son, was partially demolished about 2 a.m., the chimney crashing through the Toof of the front room to the ground and the whole roof of the front portion of tho house crashing to the floor. Fortunately neither was sleeping in tho first room, but Mrs. Kerby in the next room had a very narrow escape. Neaiby a big oak tree crashed "between two houses occupied by Messrs, C. B. Lockett and R. Lowrie, but they luckily escaped damage. The roof of the Bowling Club’s pavilion in tho central area was torn off. A house on Parawai heights occu j pied by Thomas Keith and family was also ljfldly damaged. The roof was blown off and the cowshed 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 Jack Hollows, an elderly miner pensioner, blow over pinning the occupant for several hours before he was rescued. He was admitted to the Thames Hospital with internal and bead injuries. A big timber mill at Tapu had its roof blown off. Reports from other districts reveal similar damage to fences, trees, buildings, power and telegraph lines. A scow in the "Waihou river at Turua, Hauraki Plains, was driven right inshore and another was stranded on a 6an dbank. Thcro was no outlet nor telegraphic contact this morning owing to numerous breakages by fallen trees. Heavv rain followed the gale, but about 11 o’clock the weather was much improved and showed signs of cloaring. The municipal electricity staff and telegraph and power linesmen are busily engaged restoring power and communications.