THE "POUR" & THE GALE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 6

THE "POUR" & THE GALE

DRENCHING DAY. DIG SHIPS PENNED IN PORT. "Stirmy the night, and Iho waves rolled high" prrfcctly drsuribes the weather conditions iu and iiround Wellington last evening. Early yesterday morning rain commenced to fall, and when morning broke if camo down in 'torrents. All day long w„iler descended in sheets. A heavy gala sprang up from the south-east, and this brought a nasty sea with it. Later the v.ind chopped round to the southwest, and the "pour" thickened. It was tho wettest night in Wellington for years. In many p'uees tho roadway was a river, and at times the wind would catch tho running water and scatter it right and left in icy, .embarrassing showers.

])e.v->rtod streets, nearly as wet as tho streets of Venice, and empty cars were tho order of Wis evening. After (>.30 p.m., when crowds of dripping citizens had got themselves, home, tho numbed and drenched conductors had a quiet (though cheerless) time. For thoso conductors who had to operate oil the footboards last evening anil night, tho experienco must lave been a fretzing ordeal.

Down about tins wharves tho rain-storm ami gale was at its worst. Shipping was practically at a standstill. In many cases steamers oould not work cargo at all, and in consoquenco all tho "mosquito fleet" wero tied np to their berths, and t'hero they remained snug lor the night. It was just as well, for outside Wellington Heads a heavy south-westerly galo was blowing, and at 11 p.m. it showed no signs of abating. 'Die "storm bank" was hurtling up, very thick. There was a nasty sea running.

It is seldom that a steamer of the size of tho "Union Company's Manuka is unable to leave Wellington, but even this happened last evening. Tho vessel left the wharf, bound for .Melbourne and southern ports, at 5.15 p.m., but twenty minutes later sho was observed to drop anchor 111 the stream, and tliero s'ho was up till an early hour this morning. People who had intended to bo in Lyt•telton this morning wcto sadly disappointed—tile Mararoa "could not look at it." Only on rare occasions does the weather prevent tho south boat leaving port on time, but last evening's exceptional weather compelled Captain Manning to remain alongside the wharf. It was intended to "have a look at it" at midnight, but the weather was just as bad, if not worse, mid Captain Manning decided to slay at the wharf until daybreak. Word was received from Picton tliat tho Patccnn was to have left that port for Wellington at 3 a.m. to-day. No doubt tho weather outside Tory 'Channel was just as bad as it was 011 this side of Cook Strait. Reports received from Capo Campboil and Kaikoura stated that the 6ea was heavy, and also that there was <a heavy southerly gale blqwing last night. A telegram received from Picton stated that the small steam trawler Energy had put in there 011 account of stress of weather. She was bound from Cloudy Bay to Wellington.

It is probablo that stcamera bound through Cook Strait last -night were compelled to shelter.

011 enquiry at the local telegraph office last evening ii was found that the weather had affected the working of the various telegraph lines connecting Wellington with the South Island. The wires leading north were stated to be in fair condition.

Our Petone correspondent adds:—Tho southerly which swept the Hutt Valley ycsten'.jy was quite liko old times, and promises to hold out for tho usual three days. The downpour was heavy, and tho t?ea along tho watw front was very rough, but as far as could be seen no damage was done. SNOW IN THE SOUTH. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Timaru, May 1. A cold southerly storm raged yesterday and last iiight. Snow foil in- tho Mackenzie Country, fivo inches being registered at tho Hermitage, four at Balmoral and Lalco Tcknpo, and half an inch at Burke's Pass.