IN AWFUL DISASTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVX, Issue 3106, 19 April 1897, Page 3

IN AWFUL DISASTER.

Devastating Floods in Hawke’s Bay. lany liYes tost Miles ot Country Under Water'. Thousands of Cattle and Sheep Swept Away. sinks mraffiSK Sod. ROADS, BRIDGES AND RAILWAY LINE WRECKED. ®¥sr&Ai. to tAe .ITS# ZSitiSji TtiifcS. ~ ttlSTtNda, April 18; That thd uneipßdte'd Oftdh Happen# Hdfl Boon Onc'6 rddte di'enipliJled Id this part of the holonjr. Captaik Edwin prophesied a putj ,tjhe weather on Thursday flight y’ae ,’soi far prf>mismg, that many people completed .their, shqotjhg arrangements, intending tagefc to .fheir varioua refidez vous o'n mornlpgy . -.Hokeyef^. , ~t I ■ TOit liila REOAN tO VAt.li . .. ...I and it was accompanied by a most terrific gale of wind. It was reckoned that the disastrous floods of 1893 were the worst that 'had ever been experienced since the district became settled, feat that flopdi wide-feajhing yjln. Ite devastatipn;, apd thiphnii as, it .was m Sjarip peeploi,Was.trifling compared with tea present one. .It rained, in torrents all ,<Tay ,ou Friday, but, up to nightfall there not seem any cause to expect anything serious., -.The.streets were in,many cases .under water,.. showing, that although &Jfa,(jQO has boeA Spent m.idfaiiiifig Easli'ings, the ‘system-is totally "incapable of carrying off' any great excess Of 1 rainfall. The first intimation that there Wad' s “' ' X SERIOUS 1 RISE. IN' THE BITER jwaß given, strange to say, through tho medium of the A!20,000 sewer, which runs through the centre of the town, and is supposed to carry away the house drainage. Tho outlet is into the Havelock river, some four miles from the town, and as soon os tho river rises, the sower becomes blocked. Charlton’s cellar is otic of the places which is supposed to bo drained by the sower, and yesterday morning there were several feet of water in it, showing that the river wa9 much higher than Usual. Hastings, it maybe mentioned, is -10 ft above tea level, so that a sufficient fall ought not to bo difficult to obtain. Tho next revelation was obtained from the Railway Department. The etpresa train which leaves At 11. SO had not got as far as PoukaWa (this side of To Auto) When it Was fonta’d that part of ITHB hINE AAA BEEN VVASHED AWif, AAd the train could Aot prdeeed. The system '(or want of System) of tiommflni'catIng is so absolutely tiolioiHoiis teit the passengers had t'O eAdnte five hours’ misery before a reply , could be received ftoto Wahgan'ni giving tueiii plermissibA to jgo back to . Hastings. On Any modernlyfeanagOd link if tolsgtAAliio tloh ooiild Aot be had with every station, bach train wonld carry a telephone or tele, jgrdph inetrAment,.wluoh could be to Hie wire which Is the line all the way, and surely a case of this serf Aokld be defalt with By the A'earest Itationtoaster. BefOre the fralA g'ot baht to Hastings

ASdiisa BfeEiK occueked til Ih'a line between here and Namier, so the passengers', some 230 in number, got oft at Hastings, ahd are ho* located at the Vatiohs hostolrics. Alhdngst them are cricketers, cyclists aid other sportihg personages 'Of vArioUs kinds. A great many jieople came oiit from Napier to spend Good Friday at Hastings. . They are still here, being unable either to get hack or to ’cohimhuioate jn ’any way with their friends. So littjo indication-had there been Up to S or„9 o'clock on Friday of,.any serious .nnuger from floods or .otherwise., that) paring to the rain,and there being nothing to take people out, the whole of the inhabitants seem to have retired early to rest, and the STARTLING EVENTS OF THE NIGHT came as a terrible shook to many, and as a great surprise to all. In fact it was chiefly owing to a few gunners being astir that any information of the serious condition in which many of the settlers suddenly found themselves was made known in the town, although they were only, com-paratively-speaking, a few hundred yards away. As soon as the facta became known, however, a few willing hands were found, and they, with horses, carts and boats, betook themselves to the western side of the town, and, after several hours of hard work, succeeded iu getting the various families to places of safety. Messrs S. Charlton, Tong, Cushion, J. Hunt, J. Harrison and Constable Butler took a leading part, besides others whose names could not be obtained. Fortunately it was a bright moonlight night. Had it beeh otherwise there would possibly Have been something very much more serious to chronicle. As it was, one family verb only saved by cutting a hole in the ceiling and getting up on to the roof, from which position they wore resottod with riluoh

difficulty. As g'odta da the facts got noised abroad everybody Iris out, and tie sights Which met their gazo in.all directions,were sUrptising enough. From a few yards below the Catholic church towards Havelock was one sheet of water, for miles across which the waves were breaking LIKE AN INLAND SEA. Hundred of houses, in which the inhabitants had gone to rest the night before in peace and comfort, are now half covered with water, and the contents destroyed. Your correspondent went through to Havelock. The water on the main road was in places sft deep, and still rising. Crossing the Havelock bridge, the BIGHT WAS SIMTLY APPALLING. In the direction of Fukahu was a vast sea of raging billows, with only the tops of the homesteads to be seen here and there i and it is stated that the water is in places < 40ft deep. This part of; the district is occupied almost solely by dairy farmers, many of whom have lost every head of cattle they possessed, and it is impossible to say at present whether they have all escaped with their lives. Looking from Mr Chambers’ house at Temata with a powerful telescope, only the TOPS OF A FEW HOUSES at Clive could be seen, and the water covering the intervening country made it impossible to get within miles of Clive to get information or render assistance. It is hoped that boats have been sent out them from the .Napier side, otherwise the ‘ ; LOSS OF MANY LIVES seems inevitable. W© got back over the Havelock bridge, but the authorities would not allow anyone to cross the structure afterwards. Culverts and small bridges have been rooted out and destroyed in all directions. In fact I saw one culvert fifteen feet long floating down the centre of the main street,.many feet above the sewer. "We next tried how far we could get by the Karamu road to Clive, but soon found progress in that direction utterly hopeless. As a last resource we

made our -way towards Omaha. The road in this direction was' fairly dry, but it could be plainly seen that the water had been running several feet deep in the old Ngaruroro river-bed through Flaxmere, as the debris was piled up AS HIGH AS THE FENCES. Looking away to the left it could plainly be seen that the river had carried away the embankment erected there some years ago, and was careering" down in a tremendous volume away to the west of the town; this being where the water which flooded out the settlers the night before had come from. On reaching Fernhill, wo found that the river was running bank high, many of the houses wore half-full of water, and when the flood was at its worst, it is said the water was two feet deep at Ramsay’s Hotel. The Omahu bridge has been completely washed away, and can be een about a mile down the river. There is not a piece of the bridge AS 810 AS A CIQAK let. It is only a few months since half of it vas renewed. On the opposite side of tberiver the water went right through the extensive Maori pa, and the natives are now CAMPING IN TENTS on a ull towards Broughton’s (Ngapnki). It will be thought strange,’ perhaps, that the waer between Hastings and Havelock should till be rising, while more to the south- wist it has gone down several feet. The roaam of that is that the Ngaruroro has gonedown somewhat below the break at Hoys’, o that the water from that direction is muih less in volume than it was, bat there is another largo creek which comes fromthe direction of Maraekakaho towards tin Tukituki. This has broken orer its ban;s, and is now causing a MVCH WOESE FLOOD or the flat thin the other river, but not orer the same ground. The large drains cit by the Birough Council are simply stagnant until ihe rivers go down. It is graerally beliered that there will be an mormons LCSS OF STOCK, bit at presant oily the wildest tumours a - e in circulation, which are hardly worth wording. It is, however, known that Mr Villiams put 700 sheep on Friday nfterloon in a paddock on the very highest part )f Primley and these are' all drowned. Tomoana is all under water, there being two feet of water in the dweilinghouses.

fine house .was shifteil more than a milo after the, 1893..f100d for safety, but it has been again inundated.. It is safe to say that the present flood is , , , FULLY (FIVE-FEET HIGHER phan. that of 1893. One of the most annoying phases (is,that people cannot communicate,with their friends, (although .only half-a-dozen miles away, Hastings being completely isolated at the present time, Saturday, 7 p.m. ; The Europeans, men, women and children, who were rescued from what were in many cases.very perilous positions seemed quite satisfied to get away with their lives, and did not trouble (in a groat many instances), to array themselves,-in anything but their ni&ht clothes, Not SC ! TIIE PBACTICAL ClllNßfefi. | In one house u.o.i uw rescuers went to lived three Chinese, and when their request to “ savee me ” had been responded to, they proceeded to pack up their belongings, including their bedding, and each with his bundle on his head marched forth. Two got safely stowed in the boat, but the third was not so fortunate. He Was Just balancing himself oh one foot whilb he lifted thb Other up, when over Weht the shtlw, throwing all .the dobupants ihtd thb watet., John took it all .iff good tart, and called for ." Whisky hot” . tor All ante, wteii we rbabHptl the first fffftt ,n Eleven, and a half inches of rain fell during 24 hours. t ... . 7 ,v The tain has- gntiredy ceased,’ but tho water .'gd&ov down at all. I am Just starting forCliVn... ..

OFFICIAL INFORMATION. Information was received from Hastings to-day by the secretary of the Post Office at Wellington to the effect that the most disastrous flood 1° the history of.; Hawke’s Pay ten liostl eipetisneeid them siade Friday, and the damage to, the roads and bridges is difficult to estimate. It will probably be some thousands. , ■ : The bridges at, Omabu and Kadoliffo have been washed away and Clive is almost completely.submerged. *• « • •» "■Two lives; v,E9 .jknowu to be lost, and others'almost ceftaiS. ' At MkaneS, which is almost unapproachable, the of the floods must be disastrous in the extreme. Two rescue boats, containing fivo men each, which left for Farndon, have not since been beard of, and it is feared that they have been swept to sea and lost. In one boat were Sergeant O’Donovan (of the police). Captain MoArtney and Mr Cassin, but the names of the others are unknown. Messrs Bradber and Coughlin are also reported to be drowned. The damage to the railway line by Washouts, Ac., is Very extensive, and it will be a couple of months before it is re- 1 paired. ■ , . jteauWhilb the headquarters cif the railway stationmaster will be removed to between Fill-ml oil And TbmddHa the Awatotd rltot replacbs ihß failwayline. , All the suburban small farmers are pfactibaliy rtyineck . . . ,j B.blweeA Pethhe ff-arawera several bridges liaVe been washed awiijr.

Further particulars; THE WORST CONFIRMED. . isiddi sFttlMs dRGWNBU; EEsditii parties immolated. By Telegraph.rr-f’xess Association, , . ... . .Hastings, Last night, . The most disastrous flood ~cLqwke’s. Pay Had Sy'et eSpUriended occurred on Good Friday. . yi iS , From early morning rain JFeJI in a deluge all day; accompanied by a gale. - , .... , At o p.m’. pii Friday the River Ngarurorp burst its banks at Roys’ Hill, flooding the districts surrounding, and about *l. p.m. the water was in evidence at Hastings, and at 8 several families were calling for assistance. ~ i Rescue parlies were formed, which were kept btipy through the night and through the nejit Aa,fy , Rescuing families in boats from tab,Jidtisßa. ~ . The .residents in ; the low-lying districts’ are in a terrible plight; There is great loss of stock. Hastings in parts is 10 feet under water. Railway communication between Wellington and Napier is completely out off. The express to Wellington with 250 passengers stuck beyond Pakipaki, where the rails have been washed away, and returned to Hastings at 6 p.m. The passengers had no food except fish cooked at the engine boiler, and a few sandwiches.

The express from Wellington stuck at Makotuka, and returned to Palmerston.

The line between Napier and Hastings Is terribly damaged, and railway bridges have been washed away, and the rails torn up and deposited yards away. There is a washout 25 chains long north of Pakipakij and another a chain long near Longlands. The Long lands bridge is severely shaken. From Havelock to Pakipaki is a mass of Water; and the Te Ante road is impassable. The settlers willjose terribly. The bridge over the old Ngarurbro river at Havelock is strained, and tons of debris are piled against its south side. Fears are felt for the safety of Glive, which is all undei wAtet. In the lower parts of the township only the tops of A few of the houses are visible; and several have been washed awAy. Communication between Napier and Hastings is stopped, and the question of food is serious. A man named Broadbent is reported to have been swept to sea on his horse. Tomoana is a sheet of water. There is 4ft on the bridge. Nelson Bros.’ freezing works are here. All the sheep this side of the river are safe, but about 15,000 at the Chesterhope Station belonging to the same firm have been lost. ' Cunningham, one of the shepherds, was drowned. The Omahu bridge ohas been washed away. The natives left the pah, and their whares have been washed away. Enormous damage has been done to the crops and fences. The residents of Fernhill had to leave their houses. The hotel is the only place out of water. Two Maoris were seen to be washed off their horses while attempting to cross tho river, and have not been seen since. Telegraphic communication with Napier is out off, but it is reported to be under water, with boats in tho principal streets. Some ten well-known citizens of Napier went out as a rescue party to Clive with two boats. They launched them at the Waitangi river and have not been seen since. It is supposed they have been washed to sea and drowned, as the boats were found capsized in the sea. They were all well known and respected in Hawke’s Bay. The following are tho names of those who were lost:—

Arthur MoArtney, Albion Hotel, who leaves a wife and three children.

Sergeant O’Donovan (wife and family). Constable Stevenson (wife and family). Joseph Brierley (wife and family). Fred Cassin, clerk (wife and family). Prebble (married). Eose, commercial traveller. Hobden. . ' Ansell. * Chambers. The Harbour Board’s steamer J.D.O. is searching for the bodies, but so far no result is to band. Meanee is under water, and loss of life is reported there, but there are no particulars. The Eodcliffe bridge was washed away, also the Petane bridge. There are thousands of pounds’ worth of damage to stock, &0., at Marekafcaho, the property of Mr E. D. McLean, M.H.E., and houses overturned, but no loss of life is reported up to the time of writing. Pafcekura is several feet under water. The house of Mr Baker was washed out to sea. The loss of stock throughout the district is incalculable. Mr J. N. Williams lost 700 sheep; T. Tanner, Eiverslea, 1000; Nelson Brothers, 13,000. Messrs T. Crosse and W. Bridgman are heavy losers. This does not represent anything approaching the loss. No further particulars are to hand. The carcases are floating through the country. It is feared the loss of life will be conFriday night was bright and moonlight. The water was at its highest at 7 p.m. yesterday. Eeports from Wairoa district show that there has been a loss of stock and bridges have been swept away. Great damage has been done to the railway bridges atTakapau and Waipawa. The waters are subsiding gradually. The effect of the flood to settlers and inhabitants generally will be disastrous in the coming winter.

SOME OP THE VICTIMS. Mr Arthur MoArtney, whose name appears in the list of the drowned, was one of the best known and most popular citizens of Napier. He was for some time the genial host of the Caledonian Hotel, but since took possession of the Albion Hetel. He was captain of the P Battery Artillery for a considerable period, and tor some time held command of the district. He saw active service in the Maori war, and passed unscathed through many thrilling experiences in the field. He leaves a widow and young family. Sergeant O’Donovan, another of the drowned, was one of the most intelligent

officers in, the police force, "A splendid fellow.” were the words in which, those who knew him summed up his character. He was formerly in charge of the Waipawa Station, but about 18 months, ago was given preferment to Napier. He leaves a widow, and. family, and an especially sad circumstance, is that his widow is Buffering from a mental affliction. Constable O’Donovan (formerly Court, orderly in Wellington, and now at Stratford), is a brother of Sergeant O’Donovan. Constable Stephenson, who was a brother of the sculler Stephenson, was in the police force for about seven years, and was highly respected. He leaves a widow and family. , , / ■ Mr Fredi Cassin w,w another of the idea- i titles of Najiei*, Jfc took avi imt-to , [ interest in political matters, and had the j ’ ” —-workers in an confidence or mo i«««/..■ ... _ 1 eminent degree. He was storeman in the employ of Mr Montague Lascelles, auctioneer. He leaves a widow and young family. THE DAMAGE IN THE MANAWATU DISTRICT, id 4he Ifeiv SjEalAnu Times. PAlmbeston NUeth, April 17. Testefday (Good Friday) xvas d day to bh teiheinbored; talked about and noted, id dheffi diary, , This.weather, was simply terrible ,thfe wflolti day, a fqriotis. Storm raging, with frequent and terrific stfralls. The railway service..was altogether disorganised, bridges , being washed away, approaches destroyed, apd “ slips, ” on embahkiaent3.b r !iEg;tha prevailing order of things on all.the lines.., ; , ■;. v The approaches to the. Kakariki bridge have been scoured out, also those at the bridge over the Oroua river, between Aorangi and Feilding railway stations. Nothing definite or reliable is to hand concerning more.remote localities. . Tbit)Afternoon therManawatu river is in high ■ flood, and itraffio. across the Fitzherbert bridge was hot. petffiitted, as the risk of collapse at any moment was palpable tb all. Iho road works in course of construction must have suffered considerable damage, as the rainfall was incessant for some 20 hours.

IN THE wAIEARAPA, Special to the New Zealand Times. Maktebton, April 18. 1 Very severe weather has been experienced in this district during the last few days, and tho holidays were completely spoiled. During Thursday and Friday about five inches of rain fell. The roads in many places are blocked by slips, and the rivers have overflowed their banks. It is reported that a portion of the bridge over the lluamahunga rivet at Gladstone has been washed away, A slip occurred on the railway line' between here and EketaHilna, bill the trains IHl! be able to rtin through tb-nlotfOw.' Tend! Was for some hoiifs under watet; but UO setiotts haulage is reported;

the FiooD Ax^dobfitdai: Bij Telegraph,—Press Association . ~ i Woodville, April 17. T’fie raid, Whihfi epmmenpect on Thursday morning, continued wicnohfc cessation until this morning, and all the rivers are in high flood. The. settlers, having plenty of warning, removed all .their stock* to high ground. No stock has been lost. , , The Manawatu is higher than it has jae&n sffloe 00 big ffoqjl in 1880. , , There is a ; great bode) .0? pntraqce to the, Gorge, which has ,gor|e over Freebie’s property, but the house is yet safe. ... Communication, both by railway and telegraph, was interrupted in the morning, hilt the telegraph line was cleared to PalintfSto'ii ta the aftgrnqon. ■ There 5a a waan-O.ut m th'S Gorga.between the tunnels, blit, the. Rails and paosjfflgei* got across and joined the train waiting at this .side and reached Woodville only a few minutes late. ~ The passengers to Napier yesterday only got to Makotuku, and had to return to Dannevirke and Woodville last night. The water is going down fast, and fortunately there is not a great amount of damage to report: THE TALUNE IN THE STORM. The safe arrival in port of the Tallincl ofl Saturday morning dispelled all the grave, fears which, owing to alarming rumours, •had been entertained by many concerning the vessel’s safety. The surmise made in Saturday’s. New Zealand Times as to the probable cause of the Talune’s long passage —viz., her inability to make, the entrance to the harbour because of the thick fog—has proved to be correct, and, to use Captain Phillips’ own words, there was not the slightest occasion for any great alarm. For some unknown, reason another rumour had been circulated, to the effect that, if ■ the steadier-did hot soon put in an appearance she Would be in a Very serious position; as she had Only two days’ coal supply on hoard. This statement Was Also quite groundless, as when the boat left Lyttelton she had sufficient coal to last her for six days’ full Steaming. It was not until the Talune was near thO Eaikouras that she bxperienfced Any. bad weather, but then the wind blew with hurricane force from the S.E., and was accompanied by a very lumpy sea; The shockingly siidden death of one of the passengers Cast a gloom oVer the *hole ship, and there were many oil board superstitious enough to openly Admit that they thought this sad occurrence was the cause df the steamer’s delAy. ,At ii.2o .on Friday morning the Taliino was in the vicinity of Pencarrow Head, but as no signs of the land "could be seen, the vessel’s head was turned to the southward. Cape Campbell light was abeam shortly after midnight on Friday, and then the steamer once again turned around and a course was set for Wellington. When the vessel arrived off the Heads for the second time, there was no improvement in the condition of the weather, and again Captain Phillips deemed it prudent to stand out to sea and wait for daylight. Eventually, the fog lifted sufficiently to enable the steamer to reach port, and she arrived alongside the wharf at 10 o’clock on Saturday morning, the passengers coming ashore in a very limp condition, but speaking eulogistically of tho admirable and careful seamanship displayed by Captain .Phillips and his officers.

HOW THE EOTOMAHANA FAEED. Unenviable indeed has been the lot of all the Easter excursionists by sea, and there is little doubt but that those on board the Eotomahana have fared worst of all. How tho steamer left Wellington shortly after 11.10 p.m. on Thursday, anchored ,in Worser Bay until 7.10 the following morning, and then started again for Lyttelton has already been chronicled. At 10.40 a.m.—over three hours after she passed Pencarrow Head—the Eotomahana was seen about 10 miles off by the Talune, and though the southernbound vessel was “ plugging ” steadily at it, she was making but little headway. Again at 0 p.m. tho Talune passed the Eotomahana, but the latter vessel had not made much progress against the gale, and how the large number of passengers endured the terrible tossing about they had been subjected to can only be understood by those who have experienced the fearful sensation of mal de mer. The next information received concerning the Eotomahana’s movements was from Cape Campbell, stating that early on Saturday afternoon the vessel was running there for shelter. A later telegram to the Union Company conveyed the intelligence that tho vessel at 2 o’clock was making for Port Underwood, as there was too much sea at tho Cape for her to anchor there. Eventually news came to hand on Saturday night that the “ greyhound ” was sheltering in Cloudy Bay and later that she had passed Capo Campbell at 7 o’clock yesterday morning. Last evening we received a Press Association message from Lyttelton, couched in; the following terms : passed Kaikoura at 3.30 p.m. to-day, and should arrive at Lyttelton about midnight. The gale has about expended itself.” It is not likely that the Kotomahaua’s “ holidaymakers ” will forget for many a day their little game at “ pitch and toss ” during the Easter of 1897.

THE WEST COAST STEAMERS.' Considerable surprise was manifested when the Cmapere and Herald —both from Westport—were signalled as approaching the Heads yesterday afternoon, as it was not thought they would put in an appearance until the tempestuous weather had abated considerably. The Omapere was the first to come in, and she berthed alongside the Railway Wharf at twenty minutes past 2. She loft Westport at 9 o’clock on Friday morning, and until reaching Farewell, experienced fine weather. After rounding the Cape, however, the gale struck the vessel with full force ; and some huge seas broke over her. The purser’s cabin was flooded out, and books and miscellaneous articles were floating about the floor, while just on the opposite side of the alley-way the cook’s galley had fared similarly. At 7 on Saturday morning Captain Fleming was forced to run into rVaitui Bay for shelter, and there the boat remained for five hours. After getting under way again the steamer made for Long Island, in which haven of refuge she remained until 6 a.m. yesterday, when another start was made for Wellington, the Hawke’s Bay having just left for the same purpose. The whole of the way up seas repeatedly flooded the vessel’s decks fore and aft, and several times big seas swept light over the captain’s bridge. A quantity of water found its way into the stokehole, but fortunately not' enough to do any serious damage. The saloon was also invaded by the turbulent waters, and

at one time there was. a depth of about twelve inches on the ffoor. However, no material damage , was sustained by the steamer, which eventually reached a more comfortable harbour of refuge yesterday afternoon.. During Saturday, Captain Fleming states, the gale blew with the force of a cyclone, and was one of the hardest “ bipws " he has been out in for some time past. , The experience of the Herald was in some respects similar to that of the Omapere, but on this latter steamer coming alongside the Kail way Wharf at about half-past three yesterday afternoon it was seen Mu ’’ance that she brought into port visible proofs of having (job*.. out in Thd Herald left Westport at 8.30 p.m. v~ I Wodit !e ga a ,j. j»st (iith), eartying -with hef j Cloudy Kiat'-er ?'fid H.light S.W. wind, j Holbing worthy 6. iidib otm’trerl if.fltJl -0.;r,0. stenheu Island at 11.30 a.m. Ch STTBth, w'hen the *!ZI freshened to a gale from the S.E., with thick heavy squalls. Swiftly the storm rose, necessitating the vessel seeking shelter in Cockle Bay, Port Gore, where anchor was let go at 4 p.m. On Thursday the gal© continued to olow in fierce squalls, and on Good Friday it blew with hurricane force. Though the land was but a short distance away it was impossible to see it, the feather was so’thick., At 10 a.m. on Saturday the gale seemed to’ be rfloderj£tihg, so the, vessel was got. under way .aha steamed f bjvar.ds. Head. There was up improvement, 1 and the boat ran back, tp Tort _ Gore, but ogly .re- ■ retained thero until 12.30 p.m., when £be | once again -resumed her voyage. The \ Emerald succeeded in getting as. far as Cape; the hpavy.. sea. and wind proved uCo for, h§r, and .she ?vas driven back .to. shelter ffi Cabbage Bay, However, yesterday morning anothef • was made, and. the steamer came -along astern of the Omapere. The deeply-laden vessel underwent a severe handling by the elements, and, like the Omapere, had a | terrible, time. Huge seas broke aboard in . tabid. atfcqesfiop jt; the after binnacle was • washed away, aha- solus. panelling on, the deckhouse comprising the entrant tv. tjip. saloon was damaged. At 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon an enormous sea struck the vessel- broadside-on with terrific force,. ; lifting her starboard boat right up and i carrying It across the engine-room skylight; with the boW touching the port boat. The substantial platfprm .extending frolfl the bridge deck : io ■ pOpp. dftch was broken, and' the lashifigs and ironwork holding the bow of the boat in position were carried away. The principal damage sustained by the lifeboat was to her keel, which is all broken. The gale continued to blow all this time with unabated fury, and Home idea of its force may bo obtained from the fact that an iron pin in the mainmast was snapped off by a liercegtlst. When nearing Wellington Heads the experiment of pouring oil ofl the raging Raters wq-s tried frith marke'd success,- afld the vessel was enabled to reach port Uss abofd; . . , .. . . Of the other steatnefS fthlon had been sheltering tinder Long Island, ,the KC'Sa- 8 rriohd, Taupo and Janet Nicoll, were all bohnd from the West Coast to Lyttelton; t.Kesb three got Under say yesterday morning. . . . „ . The Chau left Wellington for at 7.10 a.m. yesterday, but was unable to get. out, and dropped anchor in Wowser Bay. # ... The Hdalteth; had been anchored abreast oi the, Pilot .gtatieft siftepThursday night, returned to, the Queen s W-haVf at 5.45 p.m. yesterday, and will make another start for Westport to-day. Those on board have had a most unpleasant time, as the weather in addition to being stormy ha£ bhen bitterly cold. With the view of returning to port on .^atardaj,.an .attempt, was made to heave tfie anchor several teeth in the windlass were broken off, and the task was abandoned. Yesterday afternoon a second attempt was more Successful, and the steamer came back to the wharf.

BXPBSiSSfdM OtHBB steaMekd; : Aftar leaving Wellington: at 5 o’clock oh Thursday for Picton and Nelson, the Penguin commenced to get her share of the tempest, but she was kept on her course for some time. The Weather, however, *a a So thick that Captain Manning deemed it advisable its ftift to Cloudy Bay for shelter, And the vessel broflgfet ftp off the Waiyau There she remained tmtfl about 2 pn Friday morning, when another start was .paSeting^ about the steamer rea&rlffi S& hAlfpast 9. An hoar later she left iyf iTelso'n,’ arriving there in due course at 6 the same evening, and leaving again on the return trip to Pictou at 7 p.m. At Jackson’s Head, where the steamer had a very lively tiihe of it, there was a fearful sea running, and it is described by the officers as being about the worst they have ever experienced there. Twice the Penguin was forced to return to Guard's Bank and anchor, but at length she got to Ploton av 1.90 p:lh. oh Saturday. After a stay of about twelve hours, the boat started again for Wellington, and had fine Weather until getting out of the Sounds. Then, hotv» ever, commenced another battle with the elements, but the steamer was kept at it, and finally arrived alongside the Queen’s Wharf at 11.40 yesterday tuorning. With more or less violence the gale has extended right down the coast as far as the Bluff, for the officers of the Pukaki, .which arrived at Wellington at 5.25 p.m, on Saturday, report that ever since leaving the B onthland port at 4 p.m. oh Thursday a strong S.E. to S.W. gale prevailed, accompanied with thick rainy weather: At 11 o’clock on Saturday iuorning the Pukaki passed the Eoto’mahana some little distance this side of Cape Campbell.

As no information concerning the movements of the Mahinapua had been received, it was not known whether the steamer had actually left New Plymouth, but a telegram at last came through stating that she had got away at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The vessel arrived at Wellington shortly before 6 last evening, having been steaming against the heavy sea and gale ever since passing Cape Egmont. Prom 3 o’clock on Friday afternoon the Mahinapua was detained for 27 hours at New Plymouth, and so bad jvas the weather that the Takapuna, from Wellington, had to pass on to Onehunga at midnight on Friday without communicating with the shore. Shortly after 1 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, the Huddart, Packer liner Anglian, Which had remained in Worser Pay since Thursday night, returned to port and anchored off the end of the Queen’s Wharf. Captain Hood came back to ascertain, if possible, the state of the weather in the North, but no information was available. After taking on board an extra supply of provisions, the vessel weighed anchor at 3.45 p.m. and steamed away, but brought up again in Worser Bay. The boat was still there at an early hour this morning, but as both the wind and sea have moderated considerably, she is expected to leave for Napier a t any moment. The Tyserjliner Hawke’s Bay, about 71 hours out from Wanganui, entered the harbour yesterday afternoon, and was boarded by Captain Johnson, chief pilot, who brought her up to within a short distance of the wharf, when the anchor was let go. As the wind was blowing with considerable force, and the berthing of the large boat would be attended with some risk, it was decided not to attempt to bring her alongside until this morning. The steamer, which has been sheltering under Long Island, therefore went out into the stream and anchored.

The Charles Edward made an attempt to come on to Wellington when the other steamers did yesterday, but Captain Bruce soon found his staunch little boat was getting the worst of the encounter with tho wind and sea, and accordingly ran back into shelter again. Long Island has presented quite a busy appearance during the past few days, all the following steamers being at anchor there, viz., the Hawke's Bay, Taupo, Rosamond, Janet Niooll, Omapere, the Charles Edward and two other vessels—a Union Company’s boat and an Anchor liner. The barque which was reported as having been seen by Captain Eckford, of the Opawa, last Wednesday, has not since been reported, but she has probably been carried right through the Straits. Early this morning there was no sign of the Brunner, which, at midnight, was 36 hours out from Westport to Wellington. One of the owners of the Manaroa (Mr Askew) was advised on Saturday afternoon that the little steamer, having been unable to reach Wellington, had gone right on to Picton and arrived there safely. At 7 o’clock this morning the Mawhera will leave for Nelson and West Coast, and the Mahinapua for Nelson, New Plymouth and Onehunga. The Omapere is timed to leave at noon to-day for South, and the Penguin will sail for Lyttelton to-night.

ACCIDENTS. About four hours after the Penguin left Wellington on Thursday night, and when the steamer was having a very merry time of it, the chief steward, Mr O’Connor, while walking along, was thrown violently on to the deck, and had his collarbone broken, in addition to being bruised and generally shaken up. His injury was attended to temporarily, and on the steamer arriving in Picton Dr Millington bandaged it up. Mr O’Connor, who is a most popular officer, returned to Wellington by his steamer yesterday. A man named C. Holland, who was formerly in the employ of J. J. Curtis and Co., and who is now cook's assistant on the Mahinapua, met with a painful accident on board that steamer yesterday afternoon. A tremendous sea broke on board, knocking Holland down with great force, with the result that his left leg was broken between the knee and the ankle. ‘When the

steamer arrived in Wellington last evening, Dr Henry attended to the injured man, , and ordered his removal to the Hospital, where he was taken. He is now doing as well as can be expected.

IN THE HARBOUR. Among the yachts in the harbout the storm on Friday and Saturday created considerable damage. The yacht Waiwetu broke away from her mootings opposite the Thorndqn yacht shed on Friday night, and on Saturday was discovered ashore, but undamaged, on a patch of sandy beach close to Kaiwarra. She is owned by Mr J. P. Maxwell. Mr N. Anderson’s yacht <s iren, moqred near the Waiwetu, was not w toftewU She fil!ed , t ' ie ni »f find Siill.fi, OfiJf Die TOP", , 1 °. t . he l JSSSWg fMMaf 'he "MBBk Bfito 2- lso met v.itfi Airfiap. woe msk9 away from h 9.1 mo6ffin'*p,.fieqr fte other#, and passing through bctrveenfhe piles of the old Thorndon baths went asnore, knockipg a hole in her bottom. She sustained Other damage as well. The Atalanta, too, dia not escape soot free, as she was partly filled with water. Several pleasure boats and small yachts were sunk or filled with watet in other parts of the harbour.

DAMAGE TO THE RAILWAY LINES,

The damage by . the storm and rim on Good Friday an£( Saturday was] , very m-oat all over the island 1 , £h©‘ traffic on t&e Wanganui add .Napier sections being blodFed; Th6eipres? train from Wanganui only rain ab far as Palmerston, reaching there, at a lite JioiF oh Friday night. Passengers from Ne* Plymouth .were unable to reach Wanganui qwing to a slip in the Goat V alley tunnel, S«6 the hue has,-since been cleared, and traffic nortS of W.anglinui resumed. , Traffic on the. line became wholly suspended oh Ssjthjday, and some of the passengers from Weljington left Palmerston for Feilding by coach. Several spans of the large railway badge oyer the Kangitikei river, between Halbpmta.attd, Greatford,,, are washed iway, and the,bridge 11, taj'y rephi*. The Foxton train wan hhable ,to ®ach Palmerston on Saturday, owing to being covered with water at Oroua bhdge, and traffic is entirely suspended. A wash-out occurred near No. 1 tmnel in the Gorge on Saturday morning and thC train! iV'as uhahle to cross. At neon on fjhthrfXay a train was despatched fron Palmerston for the. Gorge v.-ith passengers, where a train was waiting on' the other side of the wash-out. ThtS ,passeh'gCrf, Were transhipped from one train to the oti®f.’ Owing to a slip on the north side of Mauriooville, the goods train was unable to get through on Saturday morning As the wires were down, instructions could hot be obtained from and the tip train was delayed a considerable time at Feathorston, and did not reach Carterton till two hours after the due time; Oh ibe Napier line the centre pier of tie Takapatl bridge- is frashed entirely aw&y ahd a considerable portion of the line is under water. The Te Acttef Lake hts bfeguh to overflow and very eXtenone damage to property an'd the line has resMtc& The most damage oh tie Wanganui section, is the fraflMng away «f the Kangitikei bridge,’ frhich frill tale week's to repair. The road' bridge hts also gohe/ and so' far there is n6‘ Cbnm'hfiii'fftiqu. A’ hbrseiftaft has been seit from Halcofiibe tb see if it is possible b establish a coach between the two places. Mr J. H.Lowe/the chief engines*. Has gone to Feilding, and Mr F. W. McLean, assistant engineer, to Wangahurb collect the necessary material and organis gangs of men to repair the bridg). All the available men and 1 timber at boti ends of the* lifter have been sent to tie scene and the wb2S' Of building a nev bridge will be begun at 6*6% . Trains will be able to riiii regtflarly es far as Newman, beyond Eketahiiiia, oh tie Government line’ from Wellington. Tin two heavy slips which took place north »f .lyfattriceville haVe been away ly gangs'©j! isiß'rc sent up from Wellington.

OTHEE BEIDGES WASHED AWiV.

At Gladstone the Euamahunga riverwas as high as during the floods at Baatertwo years affo, and. three spans of the brdge have been washed away. There was Elly four feet of water on parts of the roal at KokotaU on Saturday, only the tops of the fibsts showing, A man coming alongthe roSct gof v?o,'sh6‘d off his feet, but manajec £s' clmi; io- tM wire fbhoe, and a horsemai went; to b'W Assistance, and got him on; The wires are down between Cartertoi and Wellington, presumably on the Eirau taka, and also between Gladstone and Car terton. The wires were attached to thi Euamahunga bridge at Gladstone, and ai the structure has gone the wires have beer broken. , gome nine or ten men at Wolf s camj hadaverv unpleasant experience. Thej v?r a rti • , A„ ' od was going to bea did not think the Uc- ■ ■ ,„ over their error severe one, and did not aw . „ rOUII j until it was too lata to seek higm.. fa They had to remain On apiece of grou,*. few feet square during the night, and W6B rescued In the morning in a very benumhd Condition. The McKenzie road bridge. Upper Eangi tikei, has been carried away by the flooi in the riVer, 'The flood was most severe on the coasi side of Wairarapa, and tho lowdying ground in the Lower Valley is submerged, TEAIN AEEANGEMENTS. Commencing to-day, trains will be run between Longburn and Kaikora —passengers being required to change trains at interruption to lino north of Takapau. Arrangements have been made for coaches to run between Kaikora find Hastings, and a coach, ferry ahd train serViefe has been established between Hastings and Napier. The Eailway Department will pay coaOli and ferry tares only of those passengers holding single or return tickets who were booked prior to tho interruption to traffic, so as to enable them to complete their journey. THE EAINPALL. The rainfall as recorded by the Museum authorities was 6*07 inches up to 9.30 o’clock on Saturday morning, and during the previous 48 hours and on Saturday and yesterday so little rain fell that there was practically no difference. The horizontal movement of the wind was 700 miles for the 24 hours previous to 9.30 o’clock on Saturday morning, and since then has been much of the same velocity. The minimum temperature on Thursday was 54, on Friday 48.6, on Saturday 46, and on Sunday 46.9.