TERRIFIC GALE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23703, 10 January 1939, Page 10

TERRIFIC GALE

INVERCARGILL VISITATION FLOODING IN SOME PARTS SHIPPING DELAYED AT BLUFF (Special to Daily Times) INVERCARGILL, Jan. 9. A terrific clap of thunder that awakened the whole of Invercargill a few minutes before 6 o’clock this morning followed by a reverberating echo heralded a fierce gale that caused a fair amount of minor damcage and delayed shipping at Bluff. As the result of an exceptionally high tide this evening one or two houses in the low-lying areas flanking the Waihopai River were marooned by water which flowed over the southern embankment about 6 o’clock. A house at the western end of Hensley street was completely surrounded by water, and the occupants were compelled to remain indoors. ' Another new house still in the hands of the builders at the end of Filleul street was also marooned, the water coming to within an inch or two of the floor.

The shore line along the estuary was lashed by the full fury of the gale and at Crinan street the waves were pounding against the cement retaining wall and flinging their spray hundreds of feet along the street. Everywhere out in the estuary launches were tossing about like corks, straining fiercely at their moorings. Wash-out on Bluff Line Further south, at the end of the bitumen on the Invercargill end of the Rluff road, the waves caused a wash-out on the Bluff railway line and the service was held up while a gang of men undertook the task of repairing the break in the teeth of the gale and under a continual shower of spindrift. A bus service was operated in place of the trains. Two of the garden reserves in the city were converted into miniature lakes when the wind-driven tide drove the Otepuni Creek over its banks, flooding the gardens with salt water, which also covered the Southland Bowling Club’£ green. The superintendent of reserves (Mr B. P. Mansfield) described it as the worst storm in the six years he had been in Invercargill, and added that a good deal of damage had been done. The salt water had seriously impaired the bedding displays, and years of work had been wrecked. Several big trees were blown down during the height of the gale in No. 2 Gardens. A big gum at the corner of Forth and Conon streets was felled and a pine just outside the Feldwick gates at Queen’s Park, on the East side, was blown down. A pine tree at Elies road, near Rugby Park, was also blown over, although it was not uprooted. Work Delayed at Port

‘ Very little work was done on the waterfront at Bluff, the men being forced to leave their various positions to seek shelter. The wind reached its height at high water, and because of the extremely high tide heavy seas were breaking over all three approaches to the main wharf. Passengers off the Maunganui as well as waterside workers received a good drenching when going to and from the ships. Steam was kept on the tug all day in case of emergency, and after dark men were still standing by adjusting and putting out additional lines on the ships. Both the Maunganui and the Waiana have been delayed because of the wind and unless the weather improves overnight it is unlikely that either ship will put to sea before the afternoon. TTiis is the first time a Melbourne passenger steamer has been unable to continue her voyage according to schedule. The Port Auckland is* still sheltering at Stewart Island awaiting a berth. All the ships in port have had to put out extra mooring lines. The gale was still raging late to-night.