THE EASTERLY GALE AT AUCKLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4341, 23 March 1882, Page 2

THE EASTERLY GALE AT AUCKLAND.

She long spell of easterly and north-easterly weather whioh has prevailed during the last fortnight, and whioh our weatherwise prophets said would last for another week, assumed thepropor-t-ona of a regular gale on March 13. The wind nlew with great violence from tha north-east, the sea became very choppy, and shower, of rain fell at intervals.

About 11 o'clock this morning (says the Auckland. Evming Star of March 14) the steamer Scotchman waa observed struggling hard agiicst the- head - wind and tide with tho oibj3c. ot mi&Vrigl-S- T-_"__l berth at the Bailway Pier. She got as far as the and of Queen street wharf, bnt all th 9 efforts of the engineer failed to get hor on inoh further than abreast of the Customs' shed. Here she stuck manfully for quits 15 minutes, at the expiration of whioh timo ahe waa seen to suddenly bagin drifting astern. Mr John Lamb, who was on the wharf, waved the master of the vessel to take her round to leewstdof the wharf. A heavy sea was rolling in past the end of the pier, and, ia signing the Scotch, man, eha was brought aids on to the rollers. A quite exciting scone followed. - Tbe steamer rolled almost gunwalo under, and it waa feared by many that Bhe would eapaize. The beat whioh was suspended on the davits swung about, and bent its iron supports oat of all shapa. Ihe funnel-gays snapped, aud the funnel, after waving from side to Side several timt s as the steamer rolled, west over and rolled on deck. All the crockery and other breakable artioles below were smashed to atoms, and, to say the least of it, tho situation was ne joke, as looked at by thoaa on board. Tho Scotchman eventually got end on to the asa, and reached the shelter of the whaif.