THE GALE AT DUNEDIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3115, 28 March 1883, Page 2

THE GALE AT DUNEDIN.

The residents on the flat at Dunedin must have had a fright last week, for the sea broke through the sandhills and poured a volume of water into the low land behind. The “ Times ” says During Friday and Saturday a very heavy sea rolled in on the Ocean Beach, and on Saturday morning particularly, after the heavy gale of the previous night, tire sight was a grand one. For a time the surf broke completely over \Vhite Island, a mile or more from shore, entirely hiding it from view ; whilst at Lawyer’s Head the spray was thrown up almost level with the Bluff. At the present equinoctial period the spring tides were expected to be somewhat higher than usual, but with the force of the wind the waves were driven perhaps further up than has been known previously. Daring Friday night a breach was made in the portion of the sand hills opposite the saddling paddock at Forbury Park, and on Saturday night the water in considerable volume came right through the sandhills, causing some damage to the Ocean Beach railway line, the road, and the garden attached to a cottage adjoining. Fortunately the gale was from the south-west; had it been more southerly the waves would have been driven more directly on to the beach, aud probably a somewhat alarming quantity of water carried on to the racecourse and adjacent land.