FURIOUS RAINSTORMS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1930, Page 2

FURIOUS RAINSTORMS

DELAYS TO SHIPPING AT AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, October 27

Rainstorms of an intensity icyond anything recalled by old residents <>l Auckland, swept tlie city and .suburbs yesterday afternoon and evening, there were vivid hashes uf lightning, and deafening peals of thunder broke through the steady roar of the downpour on iron roofs Ci such vie use n ess was the rain that ir was almost akin to a eloudcurst, and people v im were, caught on the streets were drenched before they could run a few yards to shelter. In the 24 hoilus up to midnight on Saturday .bain rnin kail, but yesterday’s lull mainly accounted lor by two storms was ,98 in. The total for tlm month to date is 5.2/’ inches compared with October's average of 3.69 incogs. ilie wettest October was that of 189'), when the fall totalled 10.21 inches. The continuous stormy weather has caused considerable delay to shipping The steamer Ashburton, which reached Auckland from New York on Saturday evening, experienced a succession <* severe gales during the last week of ner voyage,and her arrival was delayed by about three Mays. So severe were the conditions that the vessel attunes could make very' .little headway against wind and sea. Tile Northern Coiiipany’a mot;;, vessel, Ronaki, reached Onehungn from Wanganui on Saturday afternoon, after being four days on the passage. .Cl- - Wanganui ’on Tuestlay. and experienced stormy conditions shortly after leaving port. l ' She tried to return to Wanga ini to (shelter I rout that storm, but could not. enter the port. dim wind was blowing with gale force from tho north-west, so the vessel was headed for lvapiti Islam!, where she anchored in a .sheltered position. On Thursday, the wind changed to tlm south-west and the trip was resumed Good progress was made until after, the vessel had passe*! Cape Egnmnt, but on Friday night the wind changed buck to north-west mid blew again with, gale force. ' The Ronaki'continued on her course and reached the shelter of Manukau Heads towards mid-day on Saturday.