THE GALE AT WELLINGTON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8145, 31 March 1888, Page 2

THE GALE AT WELLINGTON.

itii •«■ ■'as (Pkk United Pkess Association.) tli- Wellington, March 30. ice Oho of the severest storms which has beei 'k" experienced here for years swept over the cit; g,? on Wednesday evening, accompanied by a tula , la t wavu which rose in the harbour to within ISiu o the breastwork. The storm caused very heav; i n damage in town, and the Government railwa; ' ' line between Kaiwarra and I'etone is so bad I; '• damaged that it is anticipated a largo psrt wil have to be reconstructed. The huge seas run ll}' ning up ihe channel from the heads directed th iral waves against the railway Hue along I'eton .ro- beach, ami besides damage to the railway lm tito curried away several boatshuils in Oriental Baj Just opposite the wharves it tore down the sid of the Te Aro Baths and drove ashore severs yachts. The freezing hulk Jubilee lying oi i. Petone wharf parted her moorings, and wo hat driven ngaiust the wharf. She had 6000 cat aye cases of meat aboard. It is not thought an rid se-ious damage was sustained. Iron roof: ir ',cf windows, and chimneys also came in for atter in., tion, and several small buildings were wrecket c The railway line between Wellington an Petone is a perfect wreck, and some three c E four mouths will elapse before complete cost immication is restored. Meanwhile Cobb an i Go's, busses cease traflic, and have been eugage by the Government to undertake the work c On, S forwarding passengers frqm Wellington t Petoue It ia almost incredible that thejse inst in one night, or rather one tide, could have mad iesu such havoc as it did. Tbo eolid concrete wa Sir beyond Ngahauranga is carried away, and tb the heavy stone pitching has disappeared altogetht the in one or two places. Chain after chain h: ■oni beeu washed completely away, and in otht [ec- places the direction of the line altered. The weather to-day is line with a strong win blowing. During Wednesday's storm the \vat< ,-,],. rose 4ft higher than was known before. At tl ['I' Pilot station it was also very high, mid a arouud the neighbouring coast.