ROUGH TIME AT SEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15997, 16 August 1915, Page 5

ROUGH TIME AT SEA.

GALE ON SATURDAY.

PLEASURE CRAFT SUNK.

DELAY OF SHIPPING.

BoiSTEßors weather prevailed in Auckland and throughout the greater part of the province on Saturday. The wind, which blew strongly from the north-east early in the morning, increased to a full gale before mid-day, but no rain fell until early in the afternoon. Towards sunset the gale increased in force and late on, Saturday night rain fell in torrents for several hours. Although the conditions were somewhat brighter yesterday, the weather was still very rough on the East Coast, and several coastal vessels are detained at various ports in consequence. For the 48 hours, ended at midnight, halt an inch of rain was registered by the Herald gauge.

The high wind on Saturday raised a fairly heavy sea in the harbour, and tie numerous vessels anchored in the stream, strained on their cables, but fortunately none of the larger steamers or hulks cam* to grief. Almost Split in Hall. Some time on Saturday evening the pleasure launch Ruth broke loose from her moorings in Mechanics' Bay and was swept rapidly up the harbour by the wind. The launch fouled the breastwork near the corner of th £ King's Wharf, and appeared to split almost in two, as she sank immediately, and could not be seen at high water yesterday. A large fishing boat, which was anchored to the westward of the Hobson Wharf, broke adrift and was driven with great fore© against the north wall at the reclamation works in Freeman's Bay. The boat filled and sank, „ 7 And appears to be badly damaged, Several §; other pleasure craft are reported to hav» ' been slightly damaged during the height of the storm.

St. George's Bay Embankment. As a result of the gale, a certain 'd amount of damage was done to the em- „ " | bankment crossing St. George's Bay, and * "5 practically linking Campbell's Point -with 'Sp the Quay Street extension. An overturned '1 track and some 20yds of twisted tram : 'n rails, where a portion of the embank- '■'- -** ment had been swept into the sea, gave fi If the impression that serious damage nad ' J been done. A new 36ft launch, with a 1 damaged propeller, banked up high and dry against the Mechanics* Bay wall, a 1 few yards from King's Drive, added testimony to the force of the storm -" jm Close to the St. George's Rowing M t-iubs shed, now being dismantled. • number of kerbing stones had been torn 31 from the protective wall. yi Damage Not Extensive. '-•?#

A close examination of the Harbour 3 Board's works at Campbell's Point how- . s . ever, showed that tae damage to the ' embankment was not serious. The material for this work is being taken from the face of Campbell's Point and run out in trucks along the embankment. lne inner line of tram rails was quite undamaged, but, at a point where th« whole force of the gale struck the embankment, a few tons of unprotected sandstone had been washed away, leaving the cuter rails unsupported. The overturned truck was not the work of the t storm, but merely the result of a mishap ; > S when the men were engaged on the work- ." during Saturday morning. At this tame, : r?W spray was dashing over the embankment, ?'" '""" and working conditions for the men t - . were anything but pleasant. o >.-'4;' ; # When the tide was full and the gale . -1 was at its height, late on Saturday evening, the unusual sight was witnessed of ' waves breaking over King's Drive. A large iron tank wag being continually « tossed against the stonework.

A Stormy Passage. The Huddart-Parker steamer Victoria, from Southern ports, did not reach port until 2 p>m. yesterday, about four hours late. The vessel encountered a heavv north-east gale after rounding the EastCape on Saturday evening. A very heavv beam 6ea was running, and great waves broke over her bows almost continuously, but no damage was done on board. The gale lasted until after passing Cuvier Island, when the conditions improved considerablyA telegram from Tauranga states that the coastal steamer Ngatiawa, which left on Saturday afternoon for Auckland, wa» compelled to return to the Bay of Plenty port on Saturday evening owing to the boisterous nature of the weather. The Ngatiawa will probably arrive here this afternoon. The echooner Paroto is also weather-bound at a Bay of Plenty port. The Navua, from South" Sea Island ports, sent a wireless message on Saturday morning advising that she expected to reach Auckland at daylight this morning, but in view of the stormy weather she will probably be later in reaching port.