THE GALE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 152, 27 June 1907, Page 5

THE GALE.

STORMY WEATHER CONTI3TOES

EEAVY SEA ON 'WEST COAST.

The weather continues stormy, and there is very little improvement to-day, although the heavy rain has ceased! The wind is still blowing a hard gale from the south-west, and the sea oa the coast, particularly on the Manukau side, is very heavy, shipping being delayed in consequence. During the ni«*ht some of the squalls were of exceptional violence, and trees and fences were destroyed in al! directions. The full force of the gale seems to have been felt in the Epsom district. At Sehvyn Place, especially, some macrocarpa trees, fully i> years old, were uprooted on Mr. Hill's place; and also some pines forty yards behind the front row. At Takapuna, also, a number of trees were| blown over. The frame work of a house in course of erection at Epsom was blown down last night, as the builder discovered to his sorrow this morning. The Ponsonby Wharf was considerably damaged during the night by a small vessel which dragged her anchors up the Harbour, and drifted down on the wharf. This morning the vessel began to work heavily against the structure, which Wrts noticeably swaying in the heavy gale, and about half-past nine the vessel cut her way clean through it, carrying away about thirty feet of the decking and several piles. The vessel, after this exploit, in which she herself tests her mast and received damages more or less serious to her hull, drifted a few yards further on, and then brought up, the anchors securing hold in the sand. The tides continue iilgn, ana this morning the sea rose very close to the top of the Victoria wharf. Devonport, over which the wind drove a considerable quantity of spray, to tbe inconvenience and annoyance of passengers by the ferry boats. The small steamers Squall and Kanieri had rough passages from Whangarei yesterday, encountering the full force of the gale. The Squall was due to arrive yesterday morning, but did not put in an appearance until last night, while the Kanieri was detained at Whangarei until last night. The weather had then improved somewhat, but the sea was still very high. The s.s. Wanaka, which came up from the South last night, encountered the g-ale shortly after leaving Gisbornp on Tuesday afternoon last. The wind was from the north-east, and was accompanied by a heavy sea, and thick, rainy weather. The weather continued boistrrous on the passage across the Bay of Plenty, and Ouvie.r Island was picked up with considerable difficulty. The wind then suddenly changed to the south-west, and increased in force, raising a tremendous sea. One sea. which broke on board, carried away a ladder, and shifted the deck cargo. This latter included a number of casks of tallow, and, in making them secure, a seaman named Robert MoLeod was jammed between two of them. One of his ankles was badly injured, and on arrival he was examined by Dr. Aickin, who ordered bis removal to tbe hospital. The trip was one of the worst the vessel has encountered in this trade, but she behaved remarkably well during +he thirty hours she was buffeted about by the wind aid sea. The readings of the barometer during the gale were very low. At 8 pan. on Tuesday the reading was 29.70, at 4 a.m. on Wednesday 28.95, and at 11 a.m. 28.7 a The steel yacht Huia ported her moorirj?s at Devonport yesterday morning, nnd was driven ashore near the wharf. She remained hard and fast until high water, when she was floated off. The only damage sustained was a broken jib-boom. A larjro. number of small boats were swamped, and yachtsmen who had their boats hauled up on the beachr-.s experienced considerable lmeasiness on their behalf, and in a number of cases additional precaution had to be. taken to make the boats secure. A number of small vessels are weatherbound on the East Coast, including the Waiotahi, which has been detained at Opotiki several days. Several wires, including that between Ileudei-son and Cambridge, and one of the Northern lines, were blown down during yesterday's gale, but it was expected that all would be in working order in the coarse of this morning. The weather is exceptionally bad on the West Coast. A tremendous sea is running all along tbe coa-st, and ttve Manukau bar is considered to be unworkable. The Northern Company's steamer Rarawa, from New Plymouth, crossed the bar this morning and arrived at Onehunga shortly before noon, after a very rough passage. The departure of tins steamer for New Plymouth has been postponed until 9 a.m. to-morrow, at which hour the Rotoiti is also announced to sail, her departure having been further postponed owing to the weather being too rough this morning for her to sail, as had been arranged. A passenger train leaving Auckland at 8.20 ajn. To-morrow will connect with both steamers. The departure of the s.s. Muritai for Raglan and Kawhia has also been postponed, and she is now announced to sail for these ports at 10 a~m. to-morrow. The scow Tramp left Onehunga several days ago for the Kaipnra, and has not been reported since crossing the Mannkau bar on Tuesday outward bound. The opinion is held in shipping circles in Onehunga that if the vessel did not reach, shelter before the heavy weather came on she would have a very bad time of it. There is just a ehancfe that she slipped bade to the Manukau hari bour unnoticed, and is sheltering until tbe gale blows itself out. The Rarawa, which did not leave New Plymouth until midnight last night, arrived at Onehunga at 12.15 p.m. The Rarawa had an exceptionally rough trip, and, crossing the bar, had to use oil. Captain Norbury states that the bar is very bad, and is breaking for fully ten miles. The Rarawa brought up a number of cattle and horses, which, notwithstanding the very rough trip, were landed without a scratch.

The Muritai, which arrived from Wanganui and Opunake yesterday afternoon, had a very bad time crossing the Manukau bar, shipping several heavy seas, which carried away the top of her sun deck, a large safe, and the covering of her steering gear.

A very heavy sea is running in the Mamikau Harbour, and the waves are breaking right across the approach to the wharf. The Wainui, Rotoiti, Muritai, Earawa and Elsie are all berthed at the wharf, weather bound. So far no mishaps of any kind are reported.

CAPTAIN EDWOSPS POKECAST.

The following is Captain Kdwin's weather forecast for 24 hoars from 9 a.m. this day: "Strong westerly winds to gale. Glass rise. Bain probable. .Weatfcer colder."

STATEMENT BY MR. CHEESEMAN.

In eonrersatkm with, a "Star" representative this morning, Mr. Cheeseman, j Curator of the Auckland Museum, stated that, in his 25 years' experience in tak,ing meteorological observations in Auckland, he has never observed so rapid a fail in the barometer as that recorded during Tuesday and Wednesday On Tuesday, at 9.30 ajn., 30.15 was registered, and on Wednesday, at the same time, only 29, this being the lowest point reached. Mr. Cheeseman concurs with Captain Edwin as to the origin of the disturbance—that a cyclone of unusual dimensions appears to have left the shores of north-eastern Australia about' a week ago, travelling in a south-east-erly direction, and that the centre passed to the north-east of Norfolk Island and New Zealand. .The size of the cyclone was, however, so great that the whole of this colony was included in its influence, the abnormal barometrical fall coinciding with the -approach of its centre towards Auckland. The centre of the cyclone having now'passed away to the south-east, the barometer is rapidly recovering, and read 20.65 at 11.30 ajn. to-day. Mr. Cheeseman considers that we may expect strong winds from the west and south-west for several days to come, the weather moderating to a large extent. During the 24 hours ending 9.30 a.m. to-day, 905 miles of wind were registered by the anemometer at the Museum.

DAMAGE AT MANGANUI.

The gale was very severe at Manganui yesterday, and a portion of the new breastwork was completely demolished. The sea rose very high, being the highest experienced, there for some years. The Clansman was delayed for 15 hours on the passage from Auckland to Manganui.

THE WAIKARF/S EXPERIENCES.

BARQUENTTNE'S ROUGH VOYAGE. (By Telesrapn.— rress Association.) GISBORNE, this day. The Union Company's steamer Waikare met with the full force of the easterly gale during her passage from Auckland, arriving at 8 o'clock last night, after a voyage of 28 hours. Although heavy seas were shipped in the Bay of Plenty, no damage was done. The barquentine lima had a rough voyage from Newcastle, north and northeasterly gales being encountered. The vessels mizzen boom was carried away.

HEAVY GALE AT WAIHI.

A VERANDAH LIFTED BODILY. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WAIHI, Wednesday. A violent storm of wind and rain has been prevailing here all day. The blow was especially severe in the afternoon between 3 and 4 o'cioek. A large number of fences were levelled, and the verandah of the Economic Drapery, situated at the corner of Hazard and Seddon streets and opposite the National Bank, was lifted up as if on hinges, and the whole of the front section, about 40tt., was carried up against tire top portion of the building. The verandah posts were also torn a.way from, i the base blocks, and, in the one big sweeping gust, they, too, were landed up on the roof. The verandah covered both the Economic Drapery and Humphries' Music Warehouse, ana, fortunately, a large frontage of pl&tc glass windows sustained no damage. Hrverai people were passing under the verandah at the time, and, though they received a scare, they suffered no harm, the structure being carried upward bodily. The verandah was covered with corrugated iron, and is now standing upright, a spectacle rather unique. It caught on the telephone wires, and a st.alT of linemen, who were repairing the telegraphic wires near Waihi, were sent for and relieved tile pressure. This evening it U still blowing very hard, and it is difficult yet to say what damage has been occasioned by the gale.

FLOODS AT THAMES.

GREAT DAMAGE DONE. THEATRE-GOING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. (By Telegraph.— Ovra Correspondent.) THAMES, this day. One of the highest tides experienced at Thames for years occurred last night, and considerable damage sra.s done to various parts of the town. The breastwork at Thames and Tarani, and the railway line suffered badly, and several boats were smashed. The gale blowing at its height, in conjunction with the high tide, laid the low lying portions of the town at the Grahamstown end under water in several places to a depth of 3 feet. Al-bert-street and Brown and Owen-streets were especially flooded. The Miners' Union Hall, where the Kelly gang pictures were to be shown, was surrounded by water, but the men took olf their boots and socks and carried the ladies across. A spring cart was harnessed up, a.nd conveyed load after load to the place of entertainment, amidst much amusement. The Victoria Reserve was converted into a lake, and Messrs Inglis and Mooney's and Rogers' hotels were inundated, while considerable damage was done to business premises in the vicinity. Much damage has also been caused at Tararu, where the roads are badly cut up. Prompt measures have been taken to remedy the effects, and operations continued all night, gangs of workmen being employed on the roads and railway Considerable damage is reported in the outlying districts. The total damage is estimated at thousands of pounds.

A CYCLONIC STORM.

WHOLE OF NEW ZEALAND AFFECTED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The meteorological office reports that at five p.m. yesterday the whole country was within the limit of a cyclone of unusual extent, and which has approached from about north-north-west. The first evidence of its existence was noticed on Monday, but it was then to the Northward of Norfolk Island, and its size could not be determined, but by Tuesday morning the barometer at Norfolk Island had fallen to 29.35, a drop of nearly 8-10 th of an inch since the previous day, giving evidence that the disturbance was one of great extent.

Warning of tibe probability of heavy easterly gales were sent <wer the North Maud I>j about noon on Tuesday, and

to expect strong easterly winds to the South Island. These were followed by a rapid decrease of pressure in the northern districts, the fall at Auckland, as reported by Mr. Cheeseman, the meteorological observer, being over 1 l-10m during the 24 hours, and Mr. Devereaux, the observer at Waihi, reported heavy south-west gale at about four p.m., with the barometer at 29.05. Very heavy easterly gates, changing to the westward, have been reported from the northern districts.

SNOWFALL AT RAURIMU.

(By Telegraph.—rrwn Ctxrrespandeitt.) RAURIMU, this day. A heavy fall of snow took place at Raurimu last night, and the country is now covered to a depth of several inches. The men have knocked off work, and snowballing is being freely indulged in.