HURRICANE AT WELLINGTON, NEW SOUTH WALES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10968, 24 January 1899, Page 6

HURRICANE AT WELLINGTON, NEW SOUTH WALES.

BUILDINGS DAMAGED AND STREETS

FLOODED. One of the most severe and disastrous storms ever witnessed in Wellington, New South Wales, occurred between one and two o'clock on the afternoon of January 11, resulting m the destruction of several buildings and the serious loss of property. Fortunately, no lives were lost, but several were endangered. The storm came with terrific force and suddenness, but was of short duration. Steady rain set in at one o'clock, and shortly afterwards a severe thunderstorm, with vivid lightning, swept over the town. The rain tell in torrents, and was accompanied by an exceptionally stiong westerly wind, during which time the destruction of the properly took place. The storm abated at two o'clock, aim then steady rain continued to fall for a short time.

During the hurricane trees were uprooted, the streets were Hooded, and numerous houses were unroofed, while about a mile of telegraph poles on the railway line between the station and Macquarie Bridge were blown down, cutting off communication between Wellington and Bourke. The most serious damage, however, took place in the centre of the town. St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, which was only recently renovated, suffered considerably. The whole of the roof on the south side was completely blown off, and shattered to pieces, while a valuable glass-stained window on the south side was demolished beyond recognition. Tho organ was uninjured. The damage is estimated at fully £200.

The residences of Mr. A. Howard and Mr. A. V. Brown, in Gisborne-street, were siriously damaged and partly wrecked. The contents of several rooms were totally wrecked. Mr. Howard's little daughter, two years old, had a narrow escape of being killed, having been asleep in one room, but was taken out just previous to the storm and before the collapse of the roof. Lnige quantities of bricks were precipitated on to the bedsteads and furniture in both these houses.

The balcony and verandah and a quantity of the roofing of Mr. E. Fletcher's Tattersail's Hotel, in Lee-street, were blown down. Several other places in close proximity were also more or less damaged. The residences of Mr. J. Hess and Mr. C. Oflner, in Percy-street, also suffered considerable injury, the roof having been blown off, and the rain Hooding the interior. A slight loss was also occasioned at the waterworks up at Bushrangers' Creek. The temporary dam and pump were swept away by tint storm water.

The buildings which had been wrecked were visited next afternoon by crowds of townspeople, who sympathised deeply with the losers. Subscription lists will in all probability be started for the sufferers. Although only 94 points of rain were registered lit the post office, fully 2in or 3in must liavo fallen during the storm, which lusted half-aii-hour.