SEVERE GALE

Wairarapa Age, 4 May 1934, Page 5

SEVERE GALE

AUCKLAND DISTRICT SUFFERS MINOR DAMAGE. HARBOUR TRAFFIC DELAYED. SMALL CRAET IN TROUBLE!. AUCKLAND, May 3. The most severe north-easterly gale experienced for a long time swept over the Auckland Province to-day, accompanied by heavy rain. It did minor damage to buildings in many districts, interfered with electric power, telegraph and telephone services and caused delays to shipping. The gale was particularly strong in Auckland Harbour. ' It was accompanied by a very high tide at 9.45 a.m. and the conflict between wind and ebb tide at mid-day produced a short heavy sea which greatly inconvenienced harbour traffic. The captains of the ferry steamers stated that for a time the sea was the roughest they had ever experienced. The 'boats fought their way across the harbour throwing up clouds of spray, which at times rose well above their wheel houses. The services were maintained very creditably, with little delay. The steamer Ngoiro, however, broke down off Northcote Wharf through the failure of her cooling water system. Some of the passengers became needlessly alarmed at one stage and donned lifebelts. The steamer lay to until repairs were made and returned to the city under her own steam. The Pupuke, which was sent to maintain the timetable got into very rough water off Birkenhead and laboured heavily for some minutes to the discomfort of the passengers. The vehicular services were run under great, difficulties. Several hulks and scows went adrift or dragged their moorings, as did launches and small yachts. The losses among pleasure craft, however, amounted to only three or four small boats. The seas on Milford Beach were very heavy at high tide, moving large quantities of sand. A concrete boatshed was undermined and most of one wall and floor collapsed. The gal© caused some trouble to the Navy, but there was only one accident. A pinnace from the Diomede was crossing the harbour to- Devonport in the teeth of the gale and had reached midstream when a seaman lost his grip arid was pitched into the sea. The petty officer in command promptly put the boat about and after a minute- and a half of clever manoeuvring in a choppy sea the man was hauled aboard none the worse. There is usually a good deal of naval launch traffic across the harbour in the morning for the conveyance of stores and other purposes. After the accident Rear-Admiral Burgess Watson ordered that no further boats shou.d be despatched and until the eveniri- communication was kept up by means of the ferry service.—(P.A.)