FIERCE SEAS RUNNING

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1932, Page 4

FIERCE SEAS RUNNING

TARANAKI COAST BATTERED

SEWERAGE OUTLET SUFFERS.

HIGHEST TIDE FOR LONG TIME.

WAITARA HOUSES SURROUNDED.

Under the influence of the fiercest cyclonic gale experienced in Taranaki for a very long time heavy seas battered the North Taranaki coast unmercifully early yesterday morning, and an exceptionally high tide caused erosion and minor damage all along the coast. The remarkable feature of the wind was its inconsistency. Stronger southerly gales have been experienced, but yesterday morning’s wind seemed to come from all points of the compass, starting from the south-west and veering erratically to the north. The sewerage outfall under construction at the lower end of Eliot Street, New Plymouth, sustained the full force of the tremendous seas. The storm door at the entrance of the surge chamber was smashed in and the chamber flooded, substantial mounds of stone being deposited against the door by the fury of the sea. The pumps in the chamber were completely submerged and were slightly damaged. The tram line on the gantry leading from the shore to the terminus of the outfall pipe was twisted out of position, the rails being w’ell out of alignment. The poles carrying the electricty wires were pushed to varying angles, and some of the work towards the end of the outfall pipe suffered. Stacks of timber at the foot of the cliff were washed away, some of the timber being subsequently recovered on the Strandon beach.

BREAKWATER SUBMERGED. At the port the breakwater was completely submerged, and for a long time the wall was not visible. Onlookers ignorant of its existence would never have suspected there was a breakwater there. The seas in the roadstead were tremendous. The Sugai’ Loaves, with the exception of the top of Paritutu, were bathed in foam and spray. Even to attempt to reach Mikotahi was to court a heavy drenching, but the view from the summit was an inspiring one. In spite of heavy anchors several launches dragged their moorings. The launch Wainui, owned by Reesby Bros., dragged out into the roadstead, and was rescued at considerable risk in a dinghy. Many of the. launches were partly filled with water, and the sea was too rough for their owners to get out to bail them out.

The only vessel in port was the coastal steamer Ronaki, of 296 tons, belonging to the Northern Company, which was berthed at the Moturoa wharf. At 4.30 a.m. the for’ard casting holding one of the lines was carried away by the action of the swell, arid a portion of the deck railing went with it. The strain at high tide (about 7.50 a.m.) proved too much for two wire cables at the stern, which parted and had to be replaced. The exposed cape on which the municipal baths are situated as usual experienced the full force of the buffeting of tho waves. At high tide the sea broke over the protecting apron of boulders and flooded the bath house, the water lying inside the house to a depth of two feet. Heavy fogs, stones, sand and seaweed were strewn against the walls, and at the height of the storm pebbles and sand were even thrown on the roof of the baths. A derelict of the storm was a large Johnny Dory, which was stranded at the back door of the baths. When the custodian, Mr. E. Meuli, was making his way to the back of the house he was thoroughly soaked and almost washed off his feet. COTTAGES SURROUNDED. Occupants of beach cottages to the west of the mouth of the Waitara River had an anxious time throughout Thursday night and yesterday morning. Four occupied cottages close to the foreshore were surrounded by water at high tide, and the foundations of two cottages, one of which is owned by Mr. D. Laing and another occupied by a Maori family, were to some icxtent undermined. Fortunately the wind changed to a less dangerous quarter as the tide began to ebb. The seas grew somewhat quieter as the day advanced, but they were still roarin<T ominously as the tide came in last night. Ashore the gale appears to have done little damage, though a few trees and fences were blown down and gardens suffered generally. At periods during the day rain fell in torrents, a particularly heavy downpour being experienced in New Plymouth at about 7.15 last night. Vivid flashes of sheet lightning of a peculiar blue colour illuminated the heavens.

The barometer in New Plymouth yesterday was unusually low. The barometer at the Lands and Survey office recorded 29.24 inches, the second lowest since the instrument was installed. The lowest reading was 29.23 inches, on July 24, .1931.