DESTRUCTIVE GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4259, 8 July 1875, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE GALE.

AUCKLAND. Os Saturday (July 3) the barometer commenced to fall, and gave every indication of bad weather approaching. During the night a hard gale blew from the N.iS., accompanied by heavy rain. This continued until the morning, when the weather slightly moderated and the wind shifted round to the northward. Durirg the day, however, fierce squalls passed over the harbour. Towards afternoon the wind further shifted round to the N. \V., and increased in violence, and at night a violent gale pervaded from the westward. A number of vessels that had taken their departure on the previous day returned to port in consequence of the severity of the weather outside. Amongst these were the schooner Clyde, which caine back with her mainsail split. The cutter Start also came in with her mainsail rent. The little schooner Firefly, which had arrived during Saturday, came to grief following morning. Fiiuliug that she was riding heavily, the hand on board attempted to give her more chain, but in doing this the vessel slipped her cable and she came down on the wharf, carrying away her bowsprit and bulwarks forward, besides sustaining other damage. After some difficulty, she was securely moored. The yacht Alice dragged her anchor, and coming in contact with the wharf received such injury that she sank. The Rapid, cutter, also sank alongside the wharf. The greatest damage, however, took placc at night. The schooner Coronet, which had been partially hauled up on Gouk'a slip, received such knocking about that it was deemed advisable by Captain Rose to scuttle her, and this was accomplished to prevent further damage. The ketch Speedwell and the cutter Magic came to grief at the Gore-street jetty; and the yacht Lizard is a complete wreck to the west of the wharf. The frame of a new schooner, building by Messrs. Henderson and Spraggon, received a large amount of injury through the force of the wind and sea. Mr. J. Waymouth's boatbuilding shed, at Smailes' Point, also succumbed to the fury of the gale, and was swept away. The s.s. Gemini, which was anchored to the westward of the wharf, dragged her anchor, and came down on to Oxley's store shortly after nine o'clock, receiving such injury that will cost her owner a considerable sum to repair her. The cutter Diamond was also reported as sunk ; while several boats, including three of the watermen's, were cither washed od' the gridiron, or broken away from their usuul moorings. Shortly before midnight the barometer gave indications of the weather breaking, and it is probable that the force of the storm was spent. Owing to precautionary measures, the larger vessels in harbour sustained little or no damage.

ADDITIONAI, rAKTICI'LAKS. The westerly gale which swept over the harbour ou Sunday night proved very disastrous in its results upon the coastal craft. In addition to the vessels already reported by us as damaged, a number of others came to grief, causing damage to che extent of nearly three thousand pounds. The ketch Speedwell, at anchor to the westward of the wharf, dragged and drove down 011 to the wharf, where she lilled and sank, having sustained damage to both her hull and rigging. The ketch Tiritiri followed her example ; also the cutters Teaser, Diamond, Triad, and Harvest Home. The s.s. Gemini's damage does not appear so bad as was expected, and she will be able to resume her trips

in a day or so, but the injury occasiono I by her to Oxley's store is considerable. The schooner Sunbeam also dragged her anchor, aud came down on the brig .Sarah, and received injury. Two of the watermen's boats are completely broken up—these belonging to Mr. 1). Connor and Mr. B. I'ullenger. Mr. Geo. Kuan's boat was also damaged to the value of three or four pounds. The yacht Sparkle, at anchor safely 011 Sunday afternoon, was nowhere to bo found next day. To the eastward of the wluirf the schooner Echo, cutters Swift, Waratah, and Three Brothers have received

considerable damage ; also the schooner Helen and cutter l!ob Boy. The cutter Tartar has becoinc a complete wreck, -while the cutter South Carolina has received a great deal of damage from contact with the breakwater. The schooner Pearl, from the same cause, has fared also badly, and the yacht Kate is wrecked. Amongst other

: vessels which received damage, were the ' cnttersGlance, Severn, Undine, and Uob Uoy. j The schooner Fortune, at anchor oil' the breakwater, dragged, and was driven down to the reef ofT St. George's I lay ; but here she 1 appeared to hold, and fortunately escaped with slight damage. The barque Shooting •Star also dragged her anchor, and drifted nearly half a mile down harbour, where she rode out the gale with two anchors down. 1 ON'EIUJNGA. At Onehnnga the gale was equally fierce, and not without serious results. Gibbons' wharf wan - blown down, and a large quantity of timber blown away from where it was stacked. The cutter I>aute, at anchor, was driven up on to the road, and was nearly converting Fuller's Royal Hotel into a "dry dock." The beach soon became covered with lirewood, timber, capsized boats, and pieces of wreck. One large lisli-ing-boat is reported to have been blown up on to the green, 100 yards from high watermark, while a verand-.di was carried at least half a mile away from the house to which it ■was attached. The cutters Maid of Italy and Two Sisters were driven up the harbour, and finally landed on the Mangere Bridge causeway. THE THAMES. The weather on Sunday was ominous; wind • blowing strong from the north-east, veering I round to the north-west, which caused an unusual swell of water as the tide made ; and it became evident that a loss would be sustained. This was verified ; for tile full force of the gale, becoming more westerly, accompanied by fitful falls of rain, drove I the accumulated water of the spring-tide I upon the wharves, crafts, buliifings, fences, , and roadways with an unmitigated relentlcss--1 ' ness. In the lower part of Grahamstown, . from 8 to 10 o'clock, the streets were covered i with water, bringing to grief many a Sun--1 | day-going suit of clothes, as their owners I attempted to reach their various habij tations, after appearing in public worship. ! The night being dark, screened the " troubled" ones from general observation. The morning revealed the injury. Curtis s wharf, at Grahamstown, had a picce taken out of it about f>o feet near the shore end ; Several small boats were sunk, and the harbour boat, which had been on the gridiron for repainting, was thought to be secure, being firmly fashed, but the strength of the wind and weight of water as the waves

>roke across the wharf tore the stern clean lut anil sent the other portion adrift. The I'ramway Company's shed sutFered from the etairiing sea-wall giving way, causing the juilding to heel over, one half parting rom the other, and the locomotives Mere )lace<l in great jeopardy. Thompson's wharf eceiving the dehrit of (Jurtis's, w as not proof igainst such odds, ami gave way for upvard.n of 100 feet, scattering timber and tirevooil along the beach, while the fences in ,hc neighbourhood were mostly prostrated, l'araru wharf has also fallen a victim, displaying two chasms in its length of not less than 350 feet. The destruction to this erection is mainly attributed to the lifting force of the waves, the platform serving as a fulcrum to aiil the strength of the briny leveller. Several places on the Tararu road have been rendered dangerous. Some of the storekeepers in Albert-street have sult'ered

severely, the water covering their tluor for several inches. Cheap sales of damaged goods are now being notitieil. Fortunately 110 fatality has been recorded in connection witli this burst. The shipping was just able to hold on and weather the storm. The loss, however, is considerable, and will greatly inconvenience our commercial men. [Thames correspondent.]