FURTHER SEA EROSION

West Coast Times, 20 November 1914, Page 2

FURTHER SEA EROSION

SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE W PROPERTIES. CONSIDERABLE LOSSES SUETAINED. The devastation caused by the heavy sea on th 0 west side of Revell Street, between Johnston and Cb.’s rightof"ay for a distance of about a-quarfer of a mile lo the north, has been of an extensive nature during the past feudays. Whilst the erosion further south ward, where the principal damage was done formerly, has been of a trifling character, the inroads by the sea to the north have been exceptional. Damage south of Stafford Street us far as Johnstone Co.’s, has been general, and it would appear that the sou is bent upon cutting a straight line regardless of any precautions that have been taken by those whose properties are affected.

More than one instance of narrow escapes of residents has been brought under our notice. At the rear of Mr. I. Browne’s shop some of benzine were stored in an outbuilding, and at about high tide a man was engaged in removing the goods. He had just stepped out when a huge wavte demolished the structure and "ashed it into the sen. Another fatality was narrowly averted at the rear of Mr. Jacob’s shop. His grandson, Master Benamin, was in one of the buildmgg when, as in tile case of the first mentioned incident, he had just vacated the premises as the room was toppled into the raging sen. He did not realise the danger and had Ids grandfather not persuade him with some difficulty to leave the hack portion of the premises he would assuredly have met his fate. 3D. Jacobs had a largo shed stored with fancy goods and the whole of these were washed away, building and all. Further up the sea front Mrs. Devaney’s kitchen has been undermined, and ns this room forms part of tile main building the damage to the premises has been very considerable. Schroder and Co.’s new building has been further endangered and it is understood that the firm has removed all the stock from this portion of their premises. The buildings of Messrs C. Evans, Doe Bros., D. ileenan and J. Olson have all suffered more or less, and most of the premises are either overhanging or on Die brink of the embankment. Across the Stafford Street right-of-way considerable havoc has been wrought, and in many cases furniture and effects hare been removed from the houses to places of safety. The properties which have been encroached upon are Hannam’s, Pascoe’s Hall, Holmes’s, ‘Fitzsimmons’s, White's, Burke’s (recently built) and other residential sites further north. The resident have taken every possible precaution to secure their moveable goods. In some the rear walls were battered in, and the sea water rushed from the back to the front of Die premises washing all sorts of moiV able goods in its course. The encroach ment has been so considerable at this [mint that there is less than 90 feet between the bank mid Revell Street. Ip almost eVery instance the hack yards have been washed away and levelled with the sands from four feet to seven feel below the top of the embankment. Running parallel with tin* Dunedin Hotel were a series of loose I sixes. Three or four of these have disappeared, and several horses wm-e removed just prior to Die toppling over of the compartments, In some places as much a B fifty feet between the sea and the premises have been washed away. The onslaught was so sudden that the residents in the area affected have hardly had to realise their loss. The sympathy of the community will be extended to the unfortunate people in their-losses "Inch in some case:, is practically irreparable. *

Quite a number of waves washed infTT Revell Street yesterday, and on one ocasion the water rushed through Spence s stables opposite the Dunedin Ilotel. Durifag its course it crashed into a trap shod and converted it"jnto a shapeless mass, A number of the residents did not ocupy their properties last night, they having secured premises in various parts ,j( the town.

A SUGGESTION. (To the Eilitor of the “The Times ") Sir,-As a member of the Borough Council J suggest that the .Mayor call &n *’oior#(»u<*y niw-tinj* for thin ing. }( seems to me that nothing can bo done to save Revell Street, at least permanently, and that therefore to spend more money upon the beach would b toe waste -.mb funds. We have given it a very fair trial yet devastation rides. If Hokitika i x to exist we. must build a new Revell Street removed from the shore. We ought to moot tliis evening and formulate a scheme, then get or borrow thirty or forty thousand pounds from the Government and proceed forthwith to erect new business street away from the relentless sea. It is a big scheme ITiit the position is critical and an existence is in the balance, Vours, etc., BOROGH COUNCILLOR. Hokitika, Nov. Tilth., 1914.