GALE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 12

GALE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

HEAVY SEAS ON COAST. SOME DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. A violent north-east gale on Saturday night and in tho early hours of yesterday morning did a certain amount of damage. It caused the sea to come in many feet higher than usual and to overflow the embankments at Sumner and along tho shores of tho estuary. Parts of tho Sumner tram lino wcro litterod with stones washed up by the huge waves, and tho trams had to make slow and cautious journeys. Tho damage in tho city was of a minor nature. The roof of tho " Sign of the Takaho " tea rooms, on tho Cashmere llills, was lifted bodily and hurled two chains away. Tho iron of the roof broke tho telegraph wires as it crashed over them. The heavy sea at New Brighton surged up as far as tho protective st.ono wall and dashed spray over tho pier. Tho incoming tide forced tho Avon River up to a very high level at Now Brighton. 'J he gale was the most severe one experienced at Lyttelton for tho past five years. A number of gates and wireless aerial posts were blown down. The Seamen's Institute lost a chimney pot, and considerable damage was caused to one of the oil tanks in course of erection on the reclamation area. Tho tank, which is about 35ft. high, is built of iron plates over .i quarter of an inch thick, yet one side was buckled in. About 11.30 p.m. on Saturday a fault developed in the electric lighting system and many residents at Lyttelton wcro without light until about 9 a.m. yesterday. Outside the heads there was a heavy roll, which ran up the harbour. The ferry launches plying to Diamond Harbour had a trying passage across from Lyttelton. Tho ferry steamer from Wellington ran into the gale and the trip after 6 a.m. yesterday was described as a lively one.