Around Auckland.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19623, 3 February 1936, Page 2

Around Auckland.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE.

HARBOUR CRAFT BATTERED.

GAJ-E REACHED 90 M.P.H

(By Telegraph.—Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Feb. 3

The worst storm at least for 40 years raged from one o'clock yesterday morning, when the winds gradually veered from north to west and continued throughout the day, heavy rain falling.

Forty small craft were driven ashore and damaged or swamped at their moorings. Daylight yesterday revealed scenes of desolation around the eastern shores and later when the wind shifted to the west similar damage was done around the northern portion of the harbour. The 35ft. yacht Maibe was driven ashore at Mechanics Bay and badly damaged, and the 22ft Gloria was smashed to matchwood on the eastern reclamation.

i The 3:2ft keel yacht Eulalie was wrecked yesterday at Maitiatia when the wind changed to the west. The crew were just getting ashore. There were no fatalities, but Mr. T. Pitt, of Dcvonport, who fell between his launch and Marine Parade, was injured and taken to hospital. His condition is satisfactory. Telegraph communication is broken with North Auckland and partially severed south of the city. Widespread damage is reported from the country, as also in tho city and suburbs. Several small buildings were blown down, trees levelled and gardens wrecked. Slips block the roads and railway lines in many localities. 90 Miles An Hour. The rainfall for 24 hours in parts of the Auckland district was seven inches and the velocity of the'wind at the height of the storm was 90 miles an hour. Half the roof was blown off the home of Mr. E. A. Sly, Mount Albert, flying iron cutting the poAvcr ajid telegraph lines. A chimney also crashed. Portion of the roof was torn off the home of Mr. P. Hansen, Mount Albert, and the wreckage scattered over the street. At Helensville the railways shed collapsed like a concertina, burying ajii engine. Many main highways in the Auckland district are still impassable as the result of floods, but the Automobile Association stated this afternoon that detours had been discovered for most routes. The steamer Mataroa arrived this morning from London, after sheltering for 24 hours yesterday off Cuvicr Island. The glass in four cabins was broken by waves. The Niagara arrived during the forenoon from Sydney, having encountered only the tail-end of the storm on Saturday and yesterday. The direct Auckland to Sydney cable service was rendered useless at the week-end, floods and a washout at Muriwai having damaged the terminal hut.