STORM AND RAIN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 6

STORM AND RAIN.

HEAYY SODTBEBLY GALE.

SHIPPING DELAYED.

SOME TEMPESTUOUS VOYAGES

The southerly gale which has raged locally for tho past two days showed no signs of abating at a late hour last ri*£;tit. Tho lookout stationed at the Signal Station at Seatonn reported that there was oven moro sea running at' the' Heads last night than on Thursday night. The fiorco gusts of wind which were experienced ' from 9 a.m. on Thursday to tho same time on Friday, had an average velocity of miles an liour, and the wind for, the'remaindor of yesterday blew equally , hard. Tho cold snap which accompanies tli6 rain and wind, reminds ono very much of winter, and'fires that have been out of fashion for many wieeks are now in uso. in many homes. - THE SHIPPING. The shipping of the port has been considerably delayed, and only tho ferry and mail steamers!that go through .in any 'weathor, are leaving port at scheduled time; Tho Koromiko; which . left Wellington Wharf on : Thursday' afternoon, was compelled to shelter in ,W T orser Bay, and is not expected to .move from there till the weather: moderates. . . .." The big liner, Oswestry Grange, was timed to sail on .Thursday for Napier, but still remains in port. . ; : ■Tho Stormbird, Lily, "Aorere, and Petone, amongst other vessels, are also compelled to remain>in the harbour,'in consequence of tho heavy seas running outside. The Rotomahana, which is recognised as one of the best time-koopers" of tho Union Company's fleet, must havo had a very stormy passage to Lytteltori yesterday. Slio left 'Wellington at .8.30' p.m. on Thursday, and reached Lyttelton at 3 p.m. yesterday; The, Warrimoo and; Maori, .both of which arrived . from Lyttelton yesterday morning, experienced:' a. nas^' following sea. Considerable .difficulty ..was, experienced in getting' the /Maori in-tocher berth at N0.,4, Queen's Wharf, ; as' the' vessel, being. light, was-easily affected by, the wind, which was blowing with; cyclonic, force. • On the second attempt, : a ..line'from- the. bow of tho Maori was • made fast to the, wharf at No. 2, but the wind carried.her stern across to tho No'. 4 berth with considerable violence, breaking ono of her steel plates.. The excellent manner in which ■ Captain Newton managed his refractory chairge, in such weather jis pre.vailed .yesterday, was. the subject of much favourable',comment., ' t ' Tho Manuka, which arrived from Napier yesterday; had a protracted voyage, lasting about'twenty-one li.ours; Under ordinary con-, ditions, tho vessel was duo hero between 9 and 10 a.m. yesterday,'but eventually arrived at 2.15 p.m.

Tho Nelson trader Pateena, on the run from Pictohj fully,, two and a half hours more than she usually takes, i•; •' The Wakatu, from Kaikoura, was due. yesterday . but did, not arrive, and is probably/sheltering! under Cape Campbell. • Pictori was reported to be sheltering' the two Anchor .Line steamers Alexander ■ and Waverley, the former 'en; route. from»Lyttel:tbn to Wangariui, and the latter' from Tonga ■Island to Wellington. ; Tho same company's steamer Kennedy, which .was to leave Fox- 1 ton on .'Thursday'Jor. Wellington, was still unable.to do so 'at a late hour yesterday, on account of the heavy weather.'

Reports' from New Plymouth show, that the weather being experienced , between there and -Onehunga is similar, to local conditions, and 'the Rarawa, which left Onehunga at 4.15 p.m. on Thursday, arrived in New [Plymouth at 10.50 a.ni. 'yesterday, too late' to connect with the express train for Wellington/'' AN AGGIDENJ.

/ ■The smaller craft in .Wellington Harbour are_ weathering,tho gale well, and-the only, accidents that are, reported havo occurred in Evans Bay.. The small schooner yacht, -White ;Wings, is ashore there near the Patent Slip,, and.the seas wore breaking _over her with considerable violence, yesterday. Two",open boats in,the same locality drifted from their moorings, but , beached and wore dragged high and dry. HARBOUR STEAMERS. The masters of tire ferry boats that ply to Day's Bay, Seatoun, and Karaka Bay are experiencing considerable difficulty in adhering'to their timetable. 'The Cobarwas delayed over half an hour in berthing at Seatoun on. Thursday , night, and the Countess had a.similar experience yesterday morning. TELEGRAPH-LINES INTERFERED WITH. . The Telegraph ! Department reports that the storm'had-giteatly interfered with lijes in'the north, and consequently there would be cbnsiderable delay in traffic for mosf of tho North Island. It was further reported that north of Wairoa the Gisborne line'was totally interrupted. The .telephone wires have suffered'in corisequence'ot tho, heavy,gale, and wrong numbers' yesterday wero 'the order of the day.