HOWLING SOUTHERLY GALE .

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2153, 20 May 1914, Page 8

HOWLING SOUTHERLY GALE .

SHIPPING ROUGHLY HANDLED r STEAMER DAMAGED DISASTROUS FLOODS IN THE lIAWKE'S BAY DISTRICT . FATALITY AT GISBORNE A howling southerly gale accompanied by exceptionally heavy seas raged in Cook Strait all day yesterday. As tho shades of evening began to fall the weather conditions became worse and the officers on the Union collier Wliangape, which arrived in port at 9.30 p.m., reported that a "tremendous" sea was mnnin<; in the Straits. Shipping suffered in consequenco and there were practically 110 movements as far as tho smaller vessels wero concerned at Wellington. The weather on the East Coast lias' been'exceptionally' rough. As a inattei , "of fact no cargo lias been lqnded on the coast sinco April 11. Several .vessels have been reported as sheltering on tlio other side of Cook Strait, 'fn many cases steamers are overdue, but no anxiety need be l'elt for any,,of tliom.. Among tho arrivals in port yesterday morning was the small steamer Aorere. She had taken over three days to come down the coast from Patc'ii; Chptaiii I'isk reported that ho had, experienced violent weather after ho had rounded Terawhiti. Tho ICapuni tried to get out of Wellington farly yesterday morning, hut Captain M'lntosh was compelled to put back. J/nto last evening the Kamo, from (iroymouth, Tainui, from London, Kennedy from Taraliohe, and Mapourikn managed to negotiate the entrance and made port. ' . !

According to advicoa received from Muritai, which arrived there from Wellington on Sunday, has been unable to work the port on account of tho weather.

/•' 8,8. Warrimoo Buffeted. being three days at sea, the Union Company's Warrimoo arrived at Wellington from Auckland yesterday afternoon after a tempestuous passage. As soon as the vessel had East Cape. Island abeam, sho met the full force of the galo. Gisborno was found to bo unworkable, and it was decided to come on to, Napier. The same weather conditions prevailed at that port, and consequently the vessel's "head was turned tqwards, Wellington. : Seas broke all over tho Warrimoo, and tliero were terrific- raiu squalls, which made matters exceedingly..unpleasant. Tlio steamer rolled'and pitched in .in alarming manner. Between 60 and 70 passengers were over-carricd, and these will return to their respective ports by tho Victoria to-morrow. When spoken to yestorday, the officers of the Warrimoo said that it was one of the worst trips they had >xperienced.' . ." ' Testimonial to Captain Drewette.

On. arrival at Wellington Captain Drowetfe, who was in command of the vessel, , was presented with an address signed hy 57 passengers, who had been over-carried from Gisborno and Napier. The address was worded as follows:'—

"Wo, the undersigned-' passengers, who, leaving Auckland on May 14, 1914, • booked for Gisborno and Napier, have, owing t'o rough weather apd high seas, carried past our respective ports, iindare now leaving Wellington, desire, beforo dispersing, to placo on record our warm admiration for your seamanship, and our sincere appreciation of your attention to tho arduous duties of your command. We have no hesitation in saying that tho result has been that notwithstanding our somewhat long detention on board, we, in common With tho through passengers, have throughout felt an entire and most welcome sense of security. Wo also include in our thanksyour officers and tho ship's company of the Warrimoo, with a special word of appreciation for the chief steward and his staff, who, in difficult surroundings, have done everything possible to minimise pur discomforts. . Hoping it may bo our good fortune to voyage in many I'essels under your command with more favourable weather conditions, and wishing you 'good luck.' " —Wo are, dear sir, yours verv truly (hero follows the signatures of tho passengers). . ■

Whangapo Roughly Handled. After a protracted passago of " 56. hours tho Union collier AVhangape, Captain Morley, arrived in port last evening. Sho bore signs of having had a' strenuous battle with tho elements. Departure was taken from Westport at 3.30 p.m. 011 Sunday last, and all went well till the vessel had rounded Farewell Spit. Immediately she had cleared the point the collier dived her head into huge seas. The weather became so bad that it was decided to run for shelter to Guard's Bank. The Whangnpe remained at anchor thero till 7 a.m. vesterdav, when sho set out for Wellington. Some idea of tho storm in C<jok Strait can be gathered from the fact. that the vesseL took 14 hours to travel 45 miles. -As.tho Whnnmpe got further out' into :the Straits.' the fiir.v of the gale and' sea increased. At 0.'30. p.m. the collier was rolling badly,'' and ntthat hour four of the forward derricks were torn from their fastenings. Two of the lnico mores- of timber went over the side, and the remaining two came crashing down 011 deck. Ventilators were smashed anjJ deck fitting* damaged.'--Front-thence onwardMio -furtli'er damage was (lone, and tho vessel entered port in the blinding storm.

Latest Weather Reports. 'At 8 p.m. yesterday.Captain Post, of "the Government sfearner Tutanekai, which is en roil to from Auckland to Ttarotonga, reported by wireless • that Ilia vessel was in'lat'.' 29"tIo<»; '24 mill, south and 172 (leg. west. He was experiencing a strong W.S.'W. wind nml lieavv seas. The barometer read 29.50. A t S D ill, on Monday tli-o barometer showed 28.35,. and at that time the wind direction showed that tho Tutanekai was very near tho storm centre. Tho barometric readings having risen during the intervening; 24 hours showed that the vessel was steaming away from the! disturbance. At tho,same time last evening. Contain TCvans, of B.M.S. Tahiti. TenoHed by-wireless that he was in lat. 38 de<r. south and 180_ deg. east or.westi He was experiencing a moderate southwesterly gale. Captain TCvnns reported a barometric readim* of 28.G2 list evening, and 28.9G.0il Monday. This showed that- the cyclonic disturbance was making towards the east very stromlv. Latest reports received from tho East Coast were to the effect that- the weather had not showed any sign of improving. : M 1.15 o'clock this morning tb° sirfnalmnn o» duty at Wellington Heeds reported that tb°re was a considerable serf running at the entrance. The wind was blowing a moderate gale, from the snithwnrd and the wentlier allowed shins of freshening. Captain Purvis, nf the Waverloy, which arrived in port -f-om Terakohe at 0.30 a.m., renorted that the sea was making, and that it was breaking right across the entrance. IN THE WAIFiARAPA. (By Telosraph.—Hrrrinl r'orT<!-nnndetit.) Masterton, May 19. 'A'.- bitter . gale . is being . experienced hero to-night. Numbers of slips have

occurred in the district, and the rivers are swollen. Tho coach from Castlepoint had difficulty in getting through to-day, and it is not expected that it will be able to make the return journey to-morrow.

A RIVER RISES SIXTEEN FEET. HEAVY LOSS OF STOCK. HO ADS AXI) BWDOUS GONE IX ALL DIRECTIONS. Wairoa, May 19. ■A report from tlio country states that there is ,'cry heavy loss of stock. Itoads and bridges have gone in all directions. At Waihua the river rose over 16 feot. -Tlio Wairoa .River is still rising and it is raining heavily. At present the river is. over all tlio walls and the town wharf at tho Harbour Board shed dropped six inches. Several piles have been washed away.

The Mohaka. River rose to an enormous height last niglit. The postmistrpss had to leave her office and take •shelter at the hotel, where the flood is,running through the office. At noon to-day the Mohaka bridgo was intact, but great fears are expressed for its safety.

Tho harbour \yorks aro still holding, but the contractor is a heavy loser owing to a part of tlio inner training wall and tho tramline having been washed away. The main works, as far as can, be ascertained, are still intact. Tho tug Kina was washed up on the beach and severely damaged yesterday. ANXIOUS TIME AT CISBORNE. HOUSES FLOODED OUT. Gisborne, May 19. Tho storm continues. The nigbfc was very boisterous. The rain, however, is now lighter and the flood waters have subsided about 12 inches, though the water still covers the Poverty Bay flats and has entered many houses. Last night the flood reached to within ;i few yards of the Makorak.a Flo'd, l ioii> a number of families had taken refuge. At. Nelson's freezing works tho water rose to within 12 inches of the 15)10 record. The stokehold is kneedeep with water. SLIPS ON RAILWAY WORKS. CONTRACTOR OVERWHELMED IN HIS TEXT. Cisborne, May 19.. Heavy slips occurred on the railway works at Ngatapa. Ono covered a tent occupied by Samuel Dolcman, a contractor, whose dead body has been recovered from, the debris.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC HELD UP,. NAPIER CONSTRUCTION WORKS SUSPENDED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Gisborne, May 19. .The floods reached their maximum at high tide in. the early hours of this morning. Witn the ebb flood, they commenced to. recede] and the water has been steadily running out all day. At the worst the floods were within, twelve inches of the 1910 flood record. Tho settlers, taken all round, were well warned, and stock losses aro comparatively slight. Mr. Frank Read, ot Pouparae, lost 400 sheep, and Mr. A. J. Cameron, of Pouparae, and Messrs. Judd Bros., of Makuri, also sustained somo losses. Washouts and slips on the railway are very serious, and traffic will he entirely suspended for a week. The approaches to the Grey Street bridge and the Peel Street bridge in .the town are washed out, thus cutting off vehicular traffic with the railway station. The low-level Public Works bridge on the Napier construction works is again threatened, tho approaches having been washed away.' Seas on tho coast are very heavy, and the Petone, which arrived from Picton, experienced the roughest and most tempestuous passage in Captain Cowan's 10 vears' experience of the coast. Telephonic communication with the. inland centres is subject to interruption, and telegraphic communication with the south is uncertain. The rain and storm have abated somewhat, and the indications noint to a break in the weather.