BACK TO WINTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1924, Page 8

BACK TO WINTER.

6TORM AND HEAVY SEAS. FIERCE NORTHERLY GALES. PORT STANDS TRIAL WELL. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE DONE. A heavv northerly storm swept New Plymouth’on Tuesday night, all day yesterday and continued for a time last night*, when it showed alight signs of abating. Bringing with it fierce rain Baualls. which turned the gutters into miniature rivers and swelled the rivers to bank high level, the wind sought out the weak places in houses and flattened flower and vegetable beds, undoing -the work of months on the part of amateur gardeners. No damage of a serious nature, however, has been reported. The grandeur of the storm was manifest on the sea-front, where the whitetopped waves and sheets of driven spray made an awe-inspiring picture against the grey background of sullen-looking storm clouds. It was fortunate that the storm was not concurrent with the spring tides or there would have been a tale of heavy toll on the beaches to record. As it was, an inspection made by the borough engineer (Mr. W. H. Cook) yesterday revealed that nothing untoward had happened to any of the shore protective works. A storm from the north puts the most severe strain on the breakwater and wharves at the port, and through yesterday’s trial the works appear to have come magnificently, though of course, the full effect of the tremendous pressure that was put on the breakwater by the mountainous waves will not be apparent until the sea subsides. A section of tlie extension that ■was completed last Thursday has tilted slightly, probably through the foundation being scoured away, but this is only a circumstance in breakwater building and does not cause any concern. The scour fa due to inability to provide at the end of each section of 12 feet the protection that is provided at the end of a Completed Work. The only other damage that may have occurred is that some of the breakwater aprons may have subsided owing to scour, but the permanent works do not appear to have suffered.

The only boats in port yesterday were the Breeze, the Regulus and the dredge ’Parrtutu, and although there was a fairly considerable range alongside the wharves yesterday afternoon, they lay snugly at their berths. The rain prevented any work being done. The steamer Ngapuhi, which is running in place of the Rarawa in the New Plymouth-Cnehunga service, was late in leaving New Plymouth on Tuesday bight, owing to delay in working cargo. Sailing at 10 p.m. she had a strong gale and rough sea to sontend with. She reached Onehunga at 1.15 p.m. yesterday, thus having taken about 2*4 hours longer on the voyage than is usual under normal conditions.