VIOLENT GALE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 204, 28 December 1871, Page 5

VIOLENT GALE.

On Friday last the low state of the barometer which had been gradually falling for two days till it stood at 28.45, portended the approach of a storm, and its prediction was verified with a renegance On the same night During the day a high, wind blew, increasing in strength as night closed in. About midnight a heavy gale ! commenced, which reached its height about 2 a.m., on Saturday. The wind blew with almost unprecedented violence, and occasionally terrific gusts howled along threateuing destruction to everything in thpir course. Strong edifices rocked like ships at sea,- and many small buildings in exposed situations were levelled to the ground. Towards three a.m. the wind veered round from N.W. to S.E. and abated for a time. It recoinmenc^d, however, towards morning, and blew all day on Saturday, seriously impeding business, and laying travellers under embargo. The Dunedin coach started at its usual hour and managed to get as far as Havelock. The violence of the wind, however, prevented further progress, the horses being unable to mount the Round Hill, the gale blowing them comple-tely-round, and the passengers hnd to be sent, back to Lawrence. On Saturday morning considerable damage was done. The large window in Mr. Bryant's shop, in Eoss Place was blown in, and the roof of the Bank of New South Wales rendered insecure.- The walla of the old Recorder office, on the Wetherstone's road, were blown down, falling upon, and injuring an adjoining cottage, the residence of Mr. Sutton. Mr. Harrop to boarded up his windows about 2 a.m. prevent their destruction which at that time seemed imminent. Several chimneys were thrown down. The roof was blown off Dr. Hal ley's stable, and many outhouses, which escaped the storm of the 19th, destroyed. In the morning carpenters were in great demand for repairing damages. At Wetherstones a stable was thrown down and several buildings severely shaken. At the Blue Spur, the fluining which conveyed water on to the Rip and Tear Compauy, was blown down. This flume had not been long erected, and cost £-100 for timber and labor. The chimneys of Mr. Hinde's Hotel were thrown down, and several bouses sustained the loss of their respective roofs. A portion of fliiminor of the Tuapeka Water Eace was knocked down and the remaining portion injured. Eeports from other parts of the district are not yet to hand, but we believe very few places escaped damage from the violence of the storm.

The devastation amongst gardens was not so great as was conjectured. Fruit trees, as may be supposed, suifered worst, and the yield in many wardens will be almost; nil this season. Fences were damaged in many places, but to no great extent.