A fierce nor'-west gale, accompanied by heavy rain, descended upon the town about 5 o'clock.
The gale gradually increased in fury until midnight, and a tremendous sea raged along the waterfront.
Between 9 and 10 o'clock the tide was at its highest and the mountainous breakers pounded upon the beach, rising higher and higher as the gale increased.
The big seas were soon pounding against the back fences and the rear of the premises facing Revell street.
Tremendous damage was wrought, and it is estimated that fully 50 feet of the properties was eaten away by the sea.
Fences, outhouses, and the back portions of the business premises were soon being carried along the beach by the raging waves.
At the rear of the Empire Hotel most damage was done.
Five fully furnished rooms were washed away.
Many other premises suffered much damage, and the amateur protective works, that had been constructed by the residents, were demolished.
An indescribable scene of confusion and chaos met the eye this morning.
Fences were torn into all shapes, buildings were wrenched and parts were overhanging the bank that the sea had cut, and numerous outhouses were washed away entirely.
The gale did considerable damage in the town.
The top was blown off the grandstand at the racecourse, and many windows were blown in, and buildings unroofed and damaged.
The gale went down in the early hours of the morning, but the sea increased.
• Mr Alexander Munro, who died at Pleasant Valley on Wednesday, was a well-known personality in the Palmerston district, although he was not one of the pioneers.
He was a brother-in-law of the late Sir John M'Kenzie, a typical Highlander of the old school, and a man universally respected.
Mr Munro came to the dominion 30 years ago from Ross, where he followed the occupation of a fox hunter - that is to say, it was his duty to protect the flocks of the farmers from foxes.
The area was very large, about half of Sunderlandshire, half of Ross-shire, and half of Inverness-shire.
The position was a responsible one and was well remunerated.
There are Highlanders in Otago to-day whose earliest recollection is of Mr Munro with his pack of 30 or 40 dogs of every description, from staghounds to terriers.
The fox hunter was the only man except the gamekeepers allowed to carry a gun in those days, and many a night was passed in the bracken watching for a marauding fox.
As much as 100 reward has been paid for one fox.
Mr Munro leaves a widow and family.
• Owing to the greasy state of the rails yesterday morning, the north express had to be uncoupled at Sawyers Bay and taken up the incline in two sections.
Meanwhile the 8.15 train was held up in the rear of the express, having to wait for a tablet showing the line clear, and by the time the passengers were able to reach Port Chalmers it was close upon 9.40 a.m.
A number of impatient passengers whiled away the time by making suggestions, wise and otherwise, for dealing with such emergencies, the one most favoured being that an extra engine would be employed on wet days to assist by pushing the train up the incline as far as Upper Port Chalmers station.
The rear engine could then return where required, and vexations delay would be obviated. - ODT, 9.4.1914.
• COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ
