A WELLINGTON GALE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 20

A WELLINGTON GALE.

DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.

SHIPPING INTERFERED WITH.

(Fhom Our Own Correspondent.)

Wellington, April 18

There can be no possible shadow of doubt that Wellington is in the track of the winds. It seems to have baen blowing now for about a month. First it nas northerly for several day*, then there was a gleam of sunshine, after which the winds descsnded oa us once more from the south with redoubled energy. The howling southerly which, accompanied by a cold rain, set in on Wednesday night is at the moment of writing (Sunday afternoon) apparently on the point of dying away, though the sky is si ill overcast and there appears to be no sign of fine weather.

All day on Thursday the gale raged, and the cifcy presented a gloomy and miserable appearance. At -4 30 o'clock, when I went down to see the Premier off, the town seemed halfdesertec), but a few enthusiastic politicians, male aud female, could be seen toudding before the wind in the direction of the railway wharf, where the Tiitanekai was moored. 'Arrangements, we were assured by the Ministerial journal, had been made to give Mr Seddon a good send-off, and evidently a largo crowd was expicted, for as the advertised tim<3 for Bailing drew nigh Police-inspector Peuder and a body of 10 policemen marched on to the wharf. Tha inspector, however, seemed to have some difficulty in discovering the crowd. A few women had sought refuge from the storm in the Tutanekai's saloon, and the Hon. Mr Larnach, a committee clerk, and- one or two pressmen were huddled in one of the alltyways chatting about the weather and things in general and looking rather miserable. Meantime, the inspector having failed to find the expected multitude, retired his force to a position where they were able to get some shelter from the awning of a vessel on the other side of the wharf, bub the Premier came nob. He was at s Cabinet meeting, »nd later on we learned that he had all the heads of departments up before him in the Cabinet room, whether they were summoned like so many echoolboys for a few words of parting advice, and, in the words of Mr Scobie Mackenzie, told to "take care of those poor creatures (the other Ministers) in his absence, for they w«ro wholly unable to take care of themselves." After a good deal of waiting, a humane member of the Cabinet who was present told the police nob to wait, and they losb no time in retreafcingr to more comfortable quarters. A few friends" of the Premier continued to arrive, but the crowd on the wh-trf consisted of one man and a boy, who made way as the procession of carriages began to arrive. These having pulled up, there emerged from them Cabinet Ministers, private secretaries, bandies of rues and boxes freshly labelled •• Hon. R. J. Seddon," tha Premier'^ wife and daughters, and, last but r.oi least, the Premier himself, with tall black hat and warm overcoat, puffing a nice-smelling cigar. Then came many hand-shakings, Mr Seddon greeting everyone in his heartiest manner; &nd all the while the rain poured and tha wind screeched through tbe rigging. Thn visitors disembarked, all excent some friends who journeyed with Mr and Mrs Seddon in the Government steamer to see the lasb of them at Auckland. Cheers were raised by the sm*ll knob of enthusiasts now clustered together on the wharf, and final adieux were said. The Hon. John M'Kenzie, with tartan plaid riung over his shoulders, crossed the gangway, and Mr Seddon, wringing his burly colleague by the hand, said, " Good-bye, John. God bless you, old man," with some degree of emotion in his voice. A political agitator whispered a few mysterious, and no doubt motnentou«, words in Mr Seddon's ear, and the good chip Tutanekai with her valuable living ctrgo cast off and sped into the greyness.

All Thursday night the storm raged, and on Friday the weather seemed worse than ever. The streets were almost deserted. For the 48 hours, up to 9 o'clock on Saturday morning, 6in of r*in fell, and the horizontal movement of the wind was 700 miles for the 24 hours — whatever that may mean. However, one had only to 'go out to see practical illustration of the force of the wind, for tree* were brokeo, •■inflows smashed, and chimney pots blown off. .*t the top of Guba street, a fence was lifted clean on top of a house, and in another part of the town two tin buckets that had been blown aloft were seen hanging to the telephone wires. There was some interruption to tbe telephone service.

The railways north of Wellington have fared badly. The service on the Government line between Wellington and Eketahunn is interrupted owing to two heavy slips north of Mauriceville Ballast trains and workmen have been despatched to clear the obstructions, but the work will probably occupy some days. Portion of tbe ballasting of tbe stone wall at Ngahauranga has been washed away by th» heavy sea. Passengers to Eke'ahuna by Friday's train were compelled to spend the night at Mauriceville, but were sent on to their destination oa Saturday in traps. Efforts will be made to restore communication with Eketaauna by Monday.

In the Manawatu Gorge two small slips have fallen acroßS the line, but as a very much greater slip is threatening it is considered unsafe to let trains -pass. One of the approaches to the Pohangina bridge is damaged owing to the river having changed its course and now setting, into the bank. The Foxton line is under water in a number of places, and the service is entirely stopped.

The damage on the Wanganui line is even more serious. A train ran into a slip at Goat Valley tunnel, bnt escaped without serious damage. At Feilding the line has suffered severely, the damage including the washing away of part of the Aor&ngi bridge, the fracture of a pier of the Wangaehu bridge, and the flooding of the line for half a mile about the Wangaehu station. Advice has also been received of the washing away of six spans of the Rangitikei bridge, only one span being left at each end. All the dolphins are gone, and great damage has been done to the river bank.

On the Napier section the centre pier of the Takapau bridge is washed away, and a very considerable portion of the northern part of the line is under water. The Oroua River is in very heavy flood — the heaviest ever known, — and the bridges on the road from Feilding to Ashursb and at Aoraugi are seriously damaged. The former is now spanning dry land, while the main stream has been diverted to the Feilding side after washing away a great length of road. At Aorangi the railway and road bridges have each lost two spans. E. Bell's house (19 miles

from Feilding) and A. J. Bailey's residence were both washed away, and reports of loss continue to come in. Altogether the damage in tbe Feild : ng district will amount to several thonsands of pounds.

At sea the weather appears to have been equally boisterous, and the whole of the steamer traffio in and out of Wellington is completely disorganised. A tremendous sea was running at . the heads and along the coast for some distance on either side' the foam dashing high up the cliffs. The ■ like has not been seen for many years. No serious damage to shipping has, however, so far been reported. Even big steamers like the Rotomahana had to seek shelter from the storm. The passengers by the latter must have had a very miserable time. Experts here thought she might not get to Lybtelton till Sunday afternoon. A sensation was cauaed in town on Friday by a report that the Talune was wrecked off Kaikoura, and anxious crowds collected .it tfce newspaper offices and the office of the Union Company. The Talune, however, arrived safely. The steamer left Lyttelton on Thursday night, and was off Wellington heads at 11.20 a.m. on Friday; but Captain Phillips having run his distance, and it being impossible to see 500 yards ahead, he determined to put tbe shiD'fl head to the southward and keep out to sea. " At 12 30 on Saturday he turned the steamer's head for Welltugton, but on again approaching the heads fouud the fog as thick as ever. At 2.30 a.m., finding it was impossible to get a glimpse of the land or lights for tbe second time, he turned the steamer's head southward. Ultimately it cleared np sufficiently to pick up tho entrance, and shortly after 10 o'clock she was safely berthed ai the Queen's wharf. Captain Phillips and efficers state that ib was the worst weather they have ever experienced in Cook Strait. The passengers speak ia the highest prafs'j of the seamanship of Captain Phillips and his officers and men on the trip. There were 300 peoplo on board the Talune. The steerage passengers had a very rough time, as the water gob into the fore part of the ship in considerable quantitiei, and additional gloom was added to the trip by tho sudden death of the footballer Ernest Merritt on board. He was sitting and conversing with two of his club mates on the forward hatch, when he suddenly fell back with a slight groan, and cxpirad. The chief steward and stewardess, ss well as the other officers of the vessel, did all that was possible tor the unfortunate young fellow, but without avail. The deceased had nob previously complained of illness, and was apparently in the b( st of health. Ib is said that he was troubled with seasickness on the voyage up. He was only recently married.

The harbour presented a scene of wreckage and dpsolfttion. The yacht Siren, belonging to Mr Anderson and moored at Thorudon, filled aud sank, and now only the tops of her masts cm be seen. The Waiwetu, which was moored at the same place, drifted on to a sand bank near Kaiwarawara, but was not injured. Mr Block's Jennie Reed beached hemelf, and sustained considerable damage ; while all about the harbour, while the gale was ab its worst, various smaller yachts filled and sank.

Wellington, April 17.

To-day the weather was cold and wintry with a strong S.W. wind, though bub little rain fell. No serious damage occurred in town, and the railway traffic in not much hindered though slips have come down here and there. In shipping circles small boats have remained in harbour, while several vessels due are known to be sheltering in the Bounds and bays in the vicinity of thn straits.

From Wellington to New Plyraoulh on the one hand to Napier on the other reports are received aa to damage to the railway lines, the most severe of which are to bridges on the Napier section *.nd bridges near Feilding.

During the 48 hours ending at 9.30 this morning over 6in of rain fell. Though the wind has decreased in violence a very heavy sea is running ab the heads.