THE GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9146, 13 March 1893, Page 5

THE GALE.

The north-easterly gale which provailed during Friday, changed to the west early |on Saturday morning, and blew with terrific force. Starting from tho north- ; west, the wind gradually hauled into the southwest, and early in the morning was at» hurricane height. Very little damage was done in the harbour, as everything had been made snng, in anticipation of the blow. In the suburbs the damage was confined to the blowing down of some trees, fences, and signboards. A large pinus insignis in Ponsonby Road was blown across the pathway, carrying away the telephone wires in its descent. At Northcote tho yacht Ngahau, owned by Me. Boult, of Whangarei, went ashore early on Saturday morning. During the blow from the northeast she was taken to that side of the harbour for safety and smooth water, but tho wind suddenly changing to the westward she was driven ashore. She was, however, got off on Saturday afternoon and towed down the harbour, but has sustained very little damage. The yacht May dragged from her moorings down tho harbour, but did not suffer any injury. Several small boats in the upper portion of tho harbour were swamped and driven on to the beach. At the North Shore the uale did considerable damage. The coal wharf was carried away, and tho Devonport Ferry Company's steamer Eagle parted her lines and collided with the Victoria, the latter having her aponsons and puddle boxrs ] severely damaged. The schooner Atlanta was at anchor near Dunning's Mill, and had a very narrow escape of destruction. The wind and sea drove her ashore, with the result that her bowsprit went right into one of tho windows of the mill, and for safety she was scuttled. During Saturday the workmen were engaged in putting her to rights, and she was floated again yesterday. The yacht Malua, which was also at anchor at the North Shore, dragged from her moorings, and came in contact with the wharf, and notwithstanding that (Japtain Cibbs and a number of assistants

: managed to get her clear she afterwards filled and sank, and is considerably damaged. The yacht Spray also dragged from her anchorage, bub baa not been injured. All over the Devonporfc district the evidences of the strength of the wind ; are patent by the number of trees, fences, : etc., that have been levelled. The Northern S.S. Company's steamer Ar<ryle, which left for Kuaotunu and Mercury Bay on Thursday evening, had the full benefit of the north-easter, and Captain Amodeo was on the bridge continually from the time of leaving until arrival at Mercury Bay. Owing to the change in the direction of tho wind to the westward, the steamer was delayed on her upward trip, as she did not arrive until yesterday afternoon. The Northern S.S. Co.'a steamer Chelmsford, which left, for Helena Bay, Tutakaka, etc, on Tuesday evening, has evidently been caught in one of the harbours, as she has nob yet turned up. The same company's steamer, Waiotahi, is bar-bound at Opotiki. Owingtothoinclementstateof the weather on Saturday the yacht races and several picnics were postponed. Towards the evening the gale had moderated, a'.id the wind had hauled well into the southward, and yesterday turned out a beautiful day. Writing on Saturday, our Otahuhu correspondent says :—"A fierce north-east gale blow here on Friday. During the night it shifted to the north and northwest, and at about 8 o'clock on Saturday morning it blew from the west with tremendous fore.-. Trees were blown down and other damage done. The glass is now rising." The gale on .Friday night and Saturday morning caused considerable damage at Onehunga. A tremendous sea was running in the harbour, and several small boats were washed ashore, Mr. Simons' Daisy, an open sailing boat, getting one of her bilges broken in. The newly-erected public swimming bath also sustained some damage, tho tide breaking the fencing and loosening the piles. In the town several of the streets were strewn with large branches of trees, and some trees were uprooted bodily, one falling in Queen-street and carrying away the telephone wire.