Storm of 1897

It caused the ship Zuleika to run aground near Cape Palliser, with the loss of 12 lives, and severe flooding.

There were six further unconfirmed reports of drowning, bringing the total loss of life directly related to the storm event to between 25 and 31.

Weather reports on the 14 April indicated an approaching storm with a falling barometer especially in the south and with winds from a generally northerly direction.

Two spans of the Rangitikei River bridge were also washed away, effectively stopping all rail traffic between Whanganui and Palmerston North.

[7] The schooner Waiapu was off Castlepoint on the morning of 17 April between 1am and 5am, 150 miles (241 km) to the north of where the Zuleika was driven ashore.

The Waiapu's Captain Marten described the sea in the area at that time as tremendous and converging from all directions, with torrential rain, hail, and lightning.

[8] North of Napier, the sloop Pirate had her sails blown out by the gale, an easterly in that area, and was driven onto rocks on Portland Island.

[6] In Hawkes Bay there were large areas of flooding with sections of Hastings and much of the surrounding countryside underwater and damage to a number of bridges.

The Napier pilot boat was dispatched to the area and began rescuing people stranded by the flood waters.

[10] The first reported casualty of the storm was John Anderson, who drowned when his boat from Kapiti overturned opposite the wreck of the Hydrabad.