THE TIDAL WAVE ON THE COAST.

Thames Advertiser, Volume X, Issue 2625, 17 May 1877, Page 3

THE TIDAL WAVE ON THE COAST.

A letter to Mr Holdship from his mill manager at Port Charles gives some interesting particulars of the wave as observed on that part of the coast. Ihe letter is dated 12th May, and says :- "We had a fresh on Saturday last, and wo got down about 250 or 300 logs, and yesterday morning (Friday) we had a tidal wave that washed every one of them back up the creek. About 100 of them have cone up the first left hand branch, and the rest of them are up the main creek between the top of the straight run and the first crossing. A few logs have gone over the banks, but not manyi was awakened about an hour before daylight by the sound of tho water round the house, and when I got out and saw the logs racing up the creek I was completely bewildered. The whole ot the flat was under water, and when 1 went out the confusion was simply indescribable. The tide kept rushing in and out all day about every twenty minutes, which made us afraid that we should have a repetition of i,t at high water in tho evening, which we had, but not so high as in the morning. The tide rose and fell on an ayerago about eight feet every twenty minutes the whole day. Sometimes it would rise and fall as much as ten or twelve feet in that time. About two o'clock it rose and fell, I believe, more than thatj although it was only just after low water one rush came up to the level of the wharf, and went back nearly to the reef. The punt was anchored in Beef Bay, aud parted her cable, and went ashore, but took no harm, oaptain Pelly got her off, and also picked up tho anchor and chain duriug one of tho great rushes out, although he got caught with the rush in, just when he had got hold ot the end of the chnin." A correspondent writes from Mercury Island:-"On the morning of Friday, the 11th inst., about 4, o'clock, we were visited here by an extraordinary tidal wave. Two vessels lying at anchor in tho harbour, the cutter ' Start, of Auckland (Stephens), aud tho yacht Zodiac' dragging their anchors, and parting strong coir warps, wero driven ashore, but happily both vessels wero got off at next tide, neither having sustainod anydamago. The tide rose to an alarming height, serious apprehensions at ono time being entertained that. considerable damage would be done. It was estimated that the tido was ruuuing at least from 8 to 10 knots. We are now, however, happy to say that tho tides liavo como down to their usual height, the only damage sustained being part of a fence carried away. Wind light from S.W."—Auckjand Star.