A SOUTHERLY "BUSTER"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 310, 19 September 1918, Page 4

A SOUTHERLY "BUSTER"

YESTERDAY'S WILD WEATHER. Tho vagaries of tho weather hnvo rarely been «o strikingly demonstrated as they were yesterday. Tho day broke fine, blue eky, a light north-easterly breeze, and a rippling After tho gusty northerly the tranquility of the morning, tho smiling countenanco of Damo Nature, was a lure that few could resist. People who had been shut in during the previous days, or had restricted their outings to purely business objectives, went a-tnppiug and a-visiting arrayed in their, best. tho forenoon advanced the smilo of Nature faded. A great blue-black pall overcast the southern horizon and grew like tho storm clouds in the juvenile storv books. Tho light nor'-Mster languished and died, and for a brief spaoo Nature, so to speak, held her breath. Then came a swirling blast, a flash of lightning, a solid clap of thunder, ami the now programme was ushered in with a biting hailstorm from the south. The wind fairly shrieked, and in a few minutes great foam-crested rollers wero charging in through the Heads and up tho harbour, making a rip that gave tho passengers on tho ferry steamers somo lively moments. After the hnil came the snow—snow-whitenecl hills in the third week of September!—and more thunder and lightning, and always tho wind. Then came the rain— Heavy, drenching squalls of ioy water that "stung the cheek. The performance lasted for tho remainder of the day \vith less intensity, and into the evening. The night was cold and patchy— tho stars and the clouds had their innings in turn. It was a notable performance, lacking only an earthquake to round it off.

The sudden development of the storm caught many peopio unawares, and not a few bad their ardour of the morning damped in the true seiiso of the word. On the harbour the ferry boat Cobar was unable to make her usual call at Boiw Bay for the 5.30 trip to town,' and the 'uassengers from the Eastbourne, wliarf had to wall; to Day's Kay, the steam*r being delayed till close on 6'o'clock. Present indications, stntes the officinl report, aro for high .southerly winds, and squally, and showery weather. Tlio ' barometer is rising "helvy'snowti'at.l in watraRAI>A. (By .Telcgranh-Smcial CorrCeUondent.) Masterton, September 18. A heavy snowstorm was experienced throughout the Wairarana this afternoon. Snow fell in thick flakes for about two hours, covering the land; scane with a mantle of white. SnowbalfiiiK was freely indulged in by the juveniles of Masterton. On the higher jovels the "round was covered to a depth of fully an inch, and the surrounding hills are hoavilv capped. Such an experience at this time of year is unknown to the oldest settler of the Wairnrapa. As lambing is still in progress it is frn.rwl W'wo may be consideraWe mortality.'The weather cleared in .the evening and further snow is not expected.