ROUGH WEATHER

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 135, 5 December 1938, Page 8

ROUGH WEATHER

GRADUALLY IMPROVING

Special forecast for Wellington:—

Southerly gale, but 'winds gradually decreasing in force.

Occasional rain still probable, but weather impro\'ing. Temperatures cold.

The general forecast for the Dominion as a whole, issued at noon today for the ensuing twenty-four hours, \ is for south-westerly to southerly winds.' These will be moderate to strong generally north of Westport and Banks Peninsula, gale force still being reached in places. Winds, however, will gradually decrease and elsewhere they will be light to moderate. In the far south winds will veer to the west or north-west and later will freshen. Over most of the South -Island the weather will be fair to fine. In the North Island it will be cloudy to overcast, with scattered showers or drizzling rain, more especially in northern and eastern districts, but it will gradually improve. In the far south it will cloud over later and scattered rain will develop. Temperatures will be cold.

During the weekend a series of deep depressions crossed the Dominion, the main centre of low pressure this morning being in the vicinity of Poverty Bay. Further depressions are still approaching from the southern Tasman Sea. On Saturday winds were mainly between north-west and south-west, but yesterday they were more generally' south-westerly or southerly in direction. Although now light over the southern half of the South Island, winds were strong in many places last night, and this morning gales were reported as blowing in parts of Tai-anaki and in eastern districts north of Christchurch. Over most of the country the weather on Saturday was fair, but rain commenced in the south during the afternoon, and yesterday it was practically general. There have been many heavy falls, especially in eastern districts, and floods have occurred in Otago and Southland, Flooding in Dunedin has been serious, the rainfall there being in excess of four inches. Conditions, have since improved in the South Island, but in the North Island it is still showery. Temperatures have become cold generally, and snow has fallen on high levels in the South Island. On Saturday afternoon there were a number of thunderstorms in Otago and Canterbury, and a tornado crossed the centre of the town of Ashburton. Auckland's weather on Saturday was cloudy and warm, with a light southerly breeze, the maximum and minimum temperatures being 68.7 and 51.9 degrees respectively. Yesterday was cooler, with a maximum temperature of 62.2 degrees and a minimum of 50.1 degrees. Passing showers totalled 32 points of rain. Since Saturday the wind has steadily increased in force, and this morning a south-westerly gale was blowing. Wellington had fine and warm weather on Saturday, the maximum temperature being 64.7 degrees and the minimum 48.3 degrees, with 7.7 hours of bright sunshine. Frequent showers fell throughout Sunday, and the rain between 6 p.m. yesterday and 1 a.m. today was very heavy, the total fall over the weekend amounting to 186 points. Early on Sunday afternoon the wind changed from the north-west to the south, and there developed last night one of the worst southerly gales experienced for some years. The strongest gust at Kelburn was one with a velocity of 74 miles an hour at 6.30 a.m. .today, and at the same time Rongotai had a gust of 89 miles an hour. Temperatures fell yesterday, the maximum being 56.3 degrees and the minimum 48.1 degrees. Christchurch also had fine and warm weather on Saturday, with maximum and minimum temperatures of 68 and 43.1 degrees respectively. Yesterday morning the weather was dull and steady rain fell in the afternoon, with clearing showers at night, the total fall being one of 22 points. Yesterday's maximum and minimum temperatures were 68.7 and 47.8 degrees. Winds have been variable in direction, but mainly south-west. Dunedin had serious flooding during the weekend.' Very heavy rain indeed set in during Saturday afternoon and continued almost without a break until yesterday afternoon, falls around the city being in excess of four inches. A moderate to strong southerly wind was blowing yesterday, but the wind this morning was light and the weather sunny. /

POSTSCRIPTS

Chronicle and Comment

BY PERCY FLAGE

Yesterday's weather must have' proved a blow to hikers. * « •* Ready-made opinions are like readymade clothes: they look ready-made in next-to-no time. -::• » ■» Do you think Bob Semple will inaugurate a Safety First campaign in the next war? OMADHAUN. a » * I, This southerly gale should keep the Safety Week pennant on the Town. Hall flagstaff flying. * «• •» King.—lf prices continue to rise we; shall be lucky on Christmas morning; if we find much more than a darn int.: our stocking. * «• * THE STERNAL CYCLE. Dear Flage,—Although railway fares, butter, sugar, etc., are now rising in. value, we can confidently rest assured that, when the present cycle is complete, they will all fall again, according to the old law that while some are ascending others are descending, by Nature. —Yours truly, HOPE-FOR-ALL. * « * Q.E.D. Dear Flage,—Have you heard tins'; one? Did David write the Book oil Psalms? No, certainly not —Shakespeare. Consider, there are eleven letters in Shakespeare and five in psalm. 11 x 5 = 55. But some spell it Shakspere—nine letters, and allowance must be made for this. 55 — 9 = 46. Turn up the 46th Psalm. Count 49 words from the beginning—Shake; 46 from the end, backwards —Spear. There " you are.; And to the Latin scholar, what more convincing than the extra word at the end of the Psalm —Selah;. Shakesperius est libri auctor hujus,' which, being interpreted, is "Shake-: speare is the author of this book." ; * J.D. * » * REMEMBER THIS ONE? Heretaunga writes: .This is an in-: teresting story which perhaps may ba' used by you: ' A duel was lately fought in Texas by. Alexander Shott and John S. Nott. Nott was shot, and Shott was not. In; this case it is better to be Shott than. Nott. There was a rumour that Nott was not shot, and Shott avows that he. shot Nott, which proves either that the shot Shott at Nott was not shot, or/ that Nott was shot notwithstanding. 18;; may be made to appear on trial thafc the shot Shott shot shot Nott, or, a»«j. accidents with firearms are frequent,-! it may be possible that the shot Shott-I shot shot Shott himself, when the whole.: affair would resolve itself into its; 'original elements, and Shott would be: shot, and Nott would not. We think,-, however, that the shot Shott shot shofc'<| not Shott but Nott. Anyway, it is hardl1 to tell who was shot. * * * INFORMATION BUREAU. Inquiry from "Rastus" (Levin): My;*i neighbour and I pse mildly at logger-'j heads over this: Was the first light-j house included in the Seven Wonders;; of the World? Let's hear from you. ■ The first lighthouse was numbered among the Seven Wonders by the ancients. Built at a cost equal to £180,000, it stood on the Isle of Pharos/ near Alexandria. It was a tall, square structure of white stone and blazing! fire lit the surrounding night sky all the year round. There were many; other lighthouses in the pre-Christian era, but since the times of the Romans, no lighthouse was heard of until Smeaton erected the lighthouse on the rocky isle of Eddystone in 1700. The first lighthouse here was made of wood and only stood for three years. The builder was so confident in its strength, however, that he locked himself up in it for a night. That night a .storm came along which brought an end to the lighthouse and the builder. Two other lighthouses were built on Eddy-.; stone and destroyed and the present. ( one'was completed in 1811 at a cosfcr of £60.000. •«■ * * CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH SEASf' The Christmas holidays We'll spend in divers ways; Although they're distant now They'll be here soon, I trow. Now let me think, what can I do, to make a plan That'll please the family? The road, the lake, the sea? The tent, the car, and all The dreadful stuff we haul Around; camping, by Jove, Is not the sport I love; It smaeketh, overmuch Of toil and hardship, such Monstrosities! But then The beach? I mind me when My back, a lobster boiled Resembling, though well oiled, Prevented me from sleeping, And sand-flies went a-weeping For friends and brothers dead— All squashed and bleeding red With ME. Vindictive beasts, I won't provide their feasts; I want to dine on chicken, Not starve while others thicken. Eureka —splendiferous, Here's something dandy for us; Away with all that's tragic, The South. Sea Island magic Will make our holiday. Three cheers! Ti-ree, tii-ray! We'll wander merrily Beneath the mango tree; We'll revel in aromas, And turn into beachcombers; A loin-cloth will suffice For clothes; won't that be nice! My mind is. far from quiet, But certes, let it riot. This brilliant scheme is LIFE— Yes, but who'll tell the wife? D.M.S. * # * CHAIN LETTER. Another chain letter is abroad in the city. A Brooklyn resident, R.A.K.,. recently received two copies in on» week, and, naturally, is annoyed about; it. 'Here's the absurdity: CHAIN OF GOOD FORTUNE, HEALTH, AND LUCK. CONTINUE THIS CHAIN. Take nine copies and pass them on to whom you wish happiness. This Chain was started by an American Artilleryman, it must go round the world, therefore forward it if possible within 24 hours of acceptance. Do not break the chain as it may bring you bad luck. During the period five days after you have sent it a happy event is going to take place, and fill your heart with great joy. This prediction is true. "If you break the chain* as a joke and do not send the copies correctly bad luck will befall you. Mrs. Alice Victoria won £20,000, Windsor House was destroyed on 9th day for not taking this chain seriously, Mr. Coof of Lester lost his son after having this chain 9 days without forwarding copies. Mrs. Crest won £10,000, and Mrs. Pole won her fortune through having carried out her ' instructions in a conscientious way. May God bless thee YOUR WELLWISHER. R.A.K. describes the "letter" as "just I superstitious nonsense preying upo» j the susceptibles of the community." tt* iis all that—and more.