SEVERE WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 19

SEVERE WEATHER.

GALES OF WIND AND TORHENTS OF RAIN. DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS AND SHIPPING CASUALTIES. Sydney, June 1. Torrents of rain fell all night, and a gale is blowing on the coast, with a rough sea. The cutter Alice was wrecked near Kempsey. All hands were saved. It has been raining in torrents all day, and there are small signs of its cessation to-night. Some of the low-lying suburbs are flooded. At Marrickville, the water being some feet deep in some of the houses, many residents had to remove their belongings, and others were taken out by the water police boat. The fall is exceptionally heavy in the northern districts and on the western slopes of the mountains, but it has not yet penetrated far into the western interior, where it is most wanted. Several small wash aways and landslips have occurred on the -western, northern, and south coast railways, and traffic is considerably delayed. A small bridge collapsed between Sydney and Newcastle, and traffic on the northern line is consequently interrupted. A fierce cyclonic storm passed over the North Shore and western suburbs. The wind and a noise like thunder, accompanied by torrents of rain, lasted only a few minutes, but trees were uprooted and obimneys dismantled in all directions, a number of houses were wrecked, and large numbers were unroofed and damaged. At St. Leonards the Presbyterian Church, a wooden structure, was lifted bodily over, and the Leichbardt Bowing Club's sheds were also lifted bodily and wrecked along with a number of boats. At Ashfield the Town Hall was partially unroofed. At Leichhardt the tower of the fire station was blown down. Elliott Bros.' chemical works at Eozslle Bay were unroofed, and a large quantity of chemicals and machinery were damaged. The track of the storm is a scene of destruction. In some cases roofs were completely lifted off, and sheets of iron were carried many yards away. There were many narrow escapes, but no serious accidents have so far been reported. A heavy gale is blowing all along the coast and the shipping ie having a rough time. Of five vessels that were- anchored at Cape Hawke, the ketches Ballbird, Favourite, and Ability, and the smack Osprey were driven ashore. Except two men belonging to the Bsllbird, the crews reached the shore safely. They had to swim through a great sea and were in an exhausted condition when they landed. The two others remained in the rigging till rescued by the pilot boat. After Captain Gsorge, of the Bellbird, had swam aboard again to their assistance, he found them too exhausted to get ashore and then pluckily swam with them to the pilot boat. Since Saturday morning over Gin of rain have fallen in Sydney. June 2. The weather cleared during the night, and it is now fine, but threatening. The flood at Marriokville is subsiding. Seven inches of rain have been registered in the city since Saturday. j The tornado occupied only a narrow track, but throughout its course it wrought whole- ! sale havoc. Many scores of houses were wrecked, unroofed, and badly damaged. The force of the wind while the tornado raged can be gathered by the fact that roofs weighing tons were lifted bodily and carried many yards. Sheets of iron, twisted into all I shapes, were carried immense distances. Miraculous escapes from collapsing buildings and falling chimneys were numerous. In a few instances persons were slightly injured. Moods are reported from some parts of the country. Campbelltown is partly submerged. - At the Atlas Engineering Works the roofs were dislodged and the chimney stacks collapsed. A man was severely cut with glass, and a boy had bis head injured. The

waiting room of the works was blown BOydg away. The Government buildings on Cookatoo Island were also unroofed and damaged. Arriving vessels report heavy,, dirtyweather on the ooast, and that many vessels are sheltering. The weather is fine and the sea moderating. The floodß have subsided. The ketches Ability and Bellbird have broken up. Melbourne, June 7. Some districts report that 50 per cant, of the cattle and sheep have died from the effects of the drought.