BOATS ADRIFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21791, 4 May 1934, Page 10

BOATS ADRIFT

SMALL HARBOUR CRAFT

TWO SMASHED ON ROCKS RELATIVELY LITTLE ' DAMAGE .'V j MOORINGS HOLD WELL Considering thai the large majority of pleasure craft had not yet been hauled out for the winter, the damage done by the gale among them yesterday was remarkably light. A 16ft. half-decked boat, the Elmwood, moored at North Head, broke adrift and was carried across the harbour to Judge's Bay, where she was cast up on the rocks of the tide deflector, a short distance from the Akarana Yacht Club's boathouse. The mast and spars were salvaged intact, but the hull was smashed beyond repair. A punt Bft. in length was also carried across from Devonport and was washed over the tide deflector into Mechanics' Bay.- A 16ft. converted lifeboat moored in Judge's Bay was washed on to the rocks and completely wrecked. . Capsize at Moorings About mid-day a small boat, believed to have been moored - near Stanley Point, was seen from H.M.S. Dunedin drifting down on the ebb in a swamped condition. At Bajswater the Jupiter, a Y class boat, capsized at her moorings, but did not appear to have suffered much damage. Another small boat came adrift and was dashed against the ferry wharf, breaking her bowsprit and a quantity of gear. A Harbour Board launch was summoned by 'telephone and towed her to moorings in Shoal Bay. A fairly large launch dragged her moorings for some distance when the gale was at its worst and in the late afternoon was comparatively close to the wharf. Aboufr 11 a.m. the Devonport Steam Ferry Company's hulk Columbia, which was anchored in the harbour, sprung her after mast, which went overboard. At the height of the gale two of the Harbour Board's stone barges, the Gannet and the Rambler, which had been laid up in Shoal Bay, dragged their anchors and drifted out into the harbour, where they were picked up by the board's tug Te Awhina. Early in the afternoon the Te Awhina's services were again required to bring the Northern Steamship Company's oil hulk Wanganui to the Northern Wharf. She had been anchored a short distance from the company's steamer Clansman, which had dragged one of her' anchors and ed down toward the hulk. The Clansman was in no ; danger of dragging further and was left wjth both anchors holding. . Danger from Floating Logs At St. Mary's Bay a scow dragged her anchor and moved inshore, to touch the mud, where she remained. In the nforning the owners of several crafty in the bay spent an anxious-time keeping logs which Had broken adrift staving in their boats. The Monowai, which lay on the western side of the Queen's Wharf, with her bow somewhat exposed to the force of the gale, was securely moored with tvvQ wire and four hempen lines, and hadvan anchor down as well. The Harbour Board's launch Ferro was kept busy during much of the day aiding small craft that had got into difficulties. The Auckland Launch and Towboat Company's launches were also called out several times. The harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, stated last evening that a small launch, the Moa, was towed out from underneath the Ponsonby wharf, Two other launches? at Nor'hcote and Bayswater respectively, were made secure, and a yacht was picked up off Devonport and taken to a place of safety. The day's events showed that yacht and launch owners in general had profited by the costly lessons learned in earlier gales. That so few v boats broke adrift was a testimony to the soundness of the moorings laid by the Harbour Board and private owners and to the good order in which the gear had been maintained. POWER INTERRUPTIONS RADIO AERIALS SUFFER TORN, MOTOR HOODS Interruptions to electricity services were caused by the gale. A wireless aerial which was blown across the power lines at Whitney Street, Ayondale, caused the failure of the' electric light in that district from shortly after 11.30 a.m. until about 2 p.m. Minor interruptions also were caused in other parts of the Auckland Electric-Power Board s area, branches of trees being blown across the lines in various parts of the Manukau County. In addition there were the usual service faults which occur whenever a, high < wind and rain are experienced. . When the street lights were turned on in the Waitemata Electric-Power Board's area it was found there was a fault affecting the eastern portion of the New Lynn borough. Thi§ was caused by two power lines being blown together and becoming wrapped round each other. The fault was discovered without difficulty and the service restored. A wireless mast which was blown across the lines affected the service at Swanson, but only a comparatively small area was without power during the breakdown. Various minor faults occurred in other parts of the board's district. Radio masts in several other districts were blown down .by the gale and trees also suffered in various localities. * In Princes Street the thoroughfare was" covered to it? entire width by leaves and small branches torn from the tress by the force of tho wind. .. A number of touring model motorcars with old hoods had the coverings torn. It was not an uncommon sight to see vehicles with freshly-made rips in their hoods and others with damaged hoods tied down with rope and twine. One car observed in Newmarket at midday had the hood torn to shreds and was travelling with the bows almost bare and the two occupants sitting in the rain wjth their topcoats buttoned to the neck.

Motor-cyclists and cyclists found tho gusty wind treacherous and were obliged to proceed with caution. In some cases it wan difficult to steady a machine which was struck suddenly b? a strong gust. Fences were blown down in several districts ?nd instances of verandah roofs being damaged were reported. MOUNTAINOUS SEAS YACHT TOWED TO SAFETY [by telegraph—own correspondent] RUSSELL, Thursday The heaviest seas and the highest tides for mafty years. occurred during the storm last night and to-day. At Cape Brett such weather is seldom experienced The seas were mountainous Commander Montague's yacht Vision, which was lying off Russell, dragged her anchors toward the -islands facing Paihia. A launch went to her assistance and towed the Vision back to safety.