Untitled

Star (Christchurch), Issue 505, 31 December 1869, Page 3

Not for a number of years has the bay been visited by so sudden and such singular shifts of wind as took place during tho course of a few hours in the middle of the day yesterday (Dec. 7). In the morning the wind was from the northward, blowing very strong, and altogether favourable for the Flying Squadron getting under weigh. Towards noon, however, it veered to the westward, still blowing strong, and was accompanied with fierce squalls, and for about an hour afterwards it had a little more southing in it. It did not remain long at this point, however, for before 2 p.m. it rapidly backed into the northward again, and blew a perfect drift for nearly another hour. Throughout the afternoon it continued to blow fresh from the N.N.YV., with frequent sharp squalls, and but little or no rain. Considering the violence of the weather and its sudden changes, it is surprising that the number of casualties wa9 so limited. The most noticeable event was the circumstance of the reformatory rhip Deborah parting her cables during a terrific squall, and getting adrift, and running an imminent risk of being beached. From this awkward situation, however, she was happily relieved by the steamer Black Eagle, which picked her up and remained with her until she got out another anchor. One or two vessels in the bay dragged their anchors for a distance, but no damage was sustained, and beyond the grounding of several small craft on the Williamstown side of the bay, the storm was devoid of incident in so far as the shipping was concerned. On shore the gale blew with the utmost fury, and in the middle of the day Melbourne was enveloped in a duststorm so dense that it resembled a London fog in the middle of November. The wind,

although blowing from the north, was humid in the extreme ; ani the heat, for the same reason, was both oppressive and depressing. A sea breeze set in towards the close of the afternoon, bringing up a grateful breath of cooluess from the south, but the weather continued very unsettled at a late hour last night, Our correspondent at Williamstown writes : — Ci A good deal of injury was done at Williamstown by the gale. Along Nelson-place several windows were forced in, and signboards, flag-staffs, and verandahs demolished. The roofs of a large number of houses suffered severely. Slates, shingles, corrugated iron, and ridge-boards were torn away, and were swept through the streets along with kerosine tins and other refuse at a tremendous speed. In the public gardens trees were uprooted, and branches broken off. One of the locomotive sheds was also injured, and the wool store lately erected at the Government Railway Pier by Mr Johnnton, the stevedore, was greatly damaged. Near the North Williamstown llailway Station the framework of a large two storey building in course of erection was blown down, taking with it two brick chimneys. The house was owned by Captain Hannah. It is satisfactory to know that no accident occurred to life or limb." — Melbourne Argus.