HAVOC

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16201, 26 November 1926, Page 10

HAVOC

PORT PHILLIP GALE.

STEAMER. WRECKS BATHS

MELBOURNE. Nov. 18.

The steamer Malaita, which broke from her moorings in Hobson's Bay in the height of yesterday's gale and was washed" into the men's baths at South Melbourne, is still fast in the sands of the beach.

The gale moderated considerably during the night, but the waves were strong enough to move the vessel another 20ft through the western wall of the baths beyond, making the gap in the wall larger. Comparatively little further damage, however, was'done by the pounding of the vessel on the sand during the night. The Malaita carried away almost the whole length of the eastern wall of the baths when she! struck the woodwork broadside on. She then swum.; round in the'deep wafer and was washed on to the sandy bottom, and for several hours la.y with her side touching the dressing sheds fronting the Esplanade. _ With the wash of the heavy seas tho. Malaita crumpled up the staging of the baths until she moved towards the western wall. An immense hole was poundod in this wall until the, vessel's bows got through. ' Sheets of iron from tin: baths' roof were scattered in the high wind, and tons of wooden debris wctre packed about the ship. LEAKING VESSEL BEACHED.

Yesterday's gale also damaged the Bay steamer Courier, which, after a rough trip between Melbourne; and Geelong via Portarlington, sprang a leak. The Courier's cargo was unloaded and pumps were set to work, but the water gained at such an alarming rate ■that the Ceelong fire pump was requisitioned. Shipwrights, who bad been working on the collier Werribee, and had intendod returning to Melbourne last night by the Courier, were set to work to plug the' leak, but two holes merged into one, and flic water made in with greatei rapidity. Eventually the Courier had to be beached in about sft of water. A diver fixed a steel plate over the whole, concrete was then poured in, and the vessel was able to leave for Melbourne to have permanent repairs effected in dry dock, where she arrived at 7 a.m. to-day. SAVED BY ANCHOR. The small steamer Glaucus, owned by II B. Black and Co., who also own the Malaita, was washed from her moorings last niifht. Sh« bad moved some distance ashore, fn the wake of the Malaita, when fortunately her anchor Held. Her four dinghies were Washed ashore at Meiutone, and smashed. The Mentone pier, which was 6ft under water yesterday,' was considerably damaged. Several private . yachts and bathing boxes were smashed and cast up on the beaches of the bayside, and cliffs have been eaten away to an alarming extent.