DESTRUCTIVE TIDES AT WESTPORT.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 659, 17 May 1870, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE TIDES AT WESTPORT.

The damages that ensued upon the last spring tides of April 29th at Westport dwindle into insignificance beside the - 'result of the tides and weather experienced on Sunday last. As notified sodler'time back, Sunday, the Sth, as also the 15th, were spoken of by the disciples of Saxby as likely to be attended with rough dirty weather and on the latter occasion the tides being nearly at full spring, the day was looked forward to with considerable curiosity on the part of some, and with trepidation by others. After experiencing a heavy gale on the Sth, the wind moderated, and during the week the weather was exceptionally fine, and only gave evidence of breaking on Saturday. During the night the sea and wind increased amazingly, attended with occasional heavy rain, and the following morning it became evident that many of the tenements approaching the lino of high water mark would be endangered. About nine a.m., fully fifty minutes before high water, the breakers swept in quick succession over the highest line of bench, and all the tenements occupying the low-lying portions of the beach were flooded out. In Molesworth and Freeman streets there were fully' three feet of water, and Russell street, to where it is intersected by Bright street, was encroached upon by the sea, a distance of fully a hundred yards. The house once occupied by Mr Phillips, the schoolmaster, and more recently by Mr Falla, had long been an object of interest to the residents of north Gladstone street. To them it served always as a valuable index of the extent to which the sea had encroached, and so long as it stood, people were in the habit of relying upon at least 12 hours' notice to remove their stocks of merchandise or household gods. A portion of the house referred to had been removed about ten days ago, and on Saturday the weather appeared so threatening that the utmost despatch was used in pulling down the remainder, and the dismantled materials were removed to what it was considered would prove a secui-e spot, the centre of Gladstone street, until a site could bo prepared for its re-erection. Further north in the direction of tho houses occupied by Dr Thorpe and Mr Fleming, the beach presented a similar appearance, the sand, however, having been exposed to the action of violent gales of winds had formed into hillocks, and the entire beach did not present an unbroken sheet of water similar to what met the eye in the more thickly inhabited portions of the town; the dwellings referred to were also at a distance sufficiently removed from high water mark to give rise to no apprehension as to their immediate safety. Mr Fleming's house was surrounded with water, which filled all the channels between the sand-hills to a depth of four to six feet, and tho wash of the sea also reached the boundary of tho grounds attached to the residence of Dr Thorpe. Approaching the river iu the direction of Herbert street and Baring street a body of water, similar to what was sweeping over tho beach at Russell street, broke over the beach forming a deep lagoon, and discharging itself into tho river. A number of wretched tenements in this locality wero flooded as high as the window sills, and it was as much as tho occupants could do, when women and children, to wade through tho fast surging waters. This was tho only point, in respect to which there could exist any apprehension as to the safety of individuals, tho bed of tho lagoon, in which the dwellings were situate, being deeper, while at the same time the large body of

water that was passing over the beach into tho river caused a very strong current. Further west, at a point near the old cemetery, tho sea was also making a clean breach into the river, but hero there were no habitatious. The whole occurrence was so sudden and in its extent so unprecedented that it certainly took everyono by surprise. Messrs Stitt Brothers, whoso store is situated in Gladstone street, a little below Palinerston street, and adjoining tho premises of Messrs Williams and Co., chemists, had previously purchased a site in Bright street upon which to erect a new store. They anticipated no immediate damage, and had taken, no further steps in tho matter. Before high water there appeared every likelihood of the store being inundated ; as it was, tho seawash entered the back parts of the premises, and did some little damage, though very trifling when tho large stock contained in the premises of teas, sugars, and other readily damageable merchandise is taken into account. The removal of the stock, which under ordinary circumstances would have occupied three days, was effected in eight hours, by Neill and other carters. One chesnut draught horse, a splendid animal, owned by Neill, was especially noticeable for his power and might. He was worked during the entire removal, and often dragged a load of fifty cwt. The premises in the occupation of Mr David Leslie, situated in Palmerston st., wore promptly and kindly placed at Messrs Stitts' disposal. The bootmaker's and another shop adjoining Messrs Stitts' were also flooded and abandoned, and a dwelling house occupied by Mr Limbrick was also in imminent danger, but owing to tho piles of the building being unusually high escaped damage internally. The two-story house occupied by Quigly, on tho eastern side of Gladstone street, was carried clean off the piles, and the Robert Burns hotel, in the occupation of Mr M'ltae, at the eastern side of Bright street, was surrounded with water, and will require to be moved very shortly. Further up Gladstone street, and, indeed, almost all occupying sections on the western side of that thoroughfare, have suffered more or less damage, and inconvenience. Mr Williams, chemist, at the corner of that street and Palmer-ston-atreet has transferred his business to the premises adjoining Mr Munson, the bookseller. The old premises were flooded and the building has sunk to the rear throwing it several inches out of the perpendicular. Mr Harris, who occupies an hotel at the opposite corner fared similarly ill. The two premises adjoining, in the occupation of MrStruthers,painter, and Mr Hay, grocer, escaped the flood, the ground there being slightly elevated. Mr M'Dawell, draper, and all intervening premises, until reaching the Prince of Wales Hotel, were more or less flooded. Emanuel's Little Grey Hotel had a foot of water in it, and the premises ot C. M. Fox, Johnston, Carpenter, Steel and others were in a similar condition. In Molesworth-street, with few exceptions, all the buildings were flooded and many of the occupants there as also in Freeman-street, had to wade to the middle in water to get beyond the level of tho flood. The locker was in attendance at the bonds in Herbertstreet until all danger had passed, fortunately the buildings were erected on ground slightly elevated and escaped. In the upper part of Glad-stone-street the back premises only of the various section holders were inundated with water, no damage of moment being done. The overflow extended as far as Kennedystreet, surrounding the gaol and further south to Bright-street. Great fears were held with respect to the action of the tide on Sunday night, but luckily wind and sea had moderated and although the greater portion of the premises that were flooded in the morning met with a similar treatment in the evening, it was evident that the worst had passed for the present. The soa continued to moderate yesterday and there appears every likelihood of fine weather.