UNSEASONABLE WEATHER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 325, 18 January 1909, Page 2

UNSEASONABLE WEATHER.

TKJi.UKNJJOIM SKA IN L'UUK STJUIT. SIUIiWXU i.NTJiItI'EKEU WITH. By Telegraph.—l'i'css Association. I Wellington, Last Night. A tremendous sim was running in i'oolc Strait yesterday morning, lli.■largest mid angriest for years, according In the testimony ol Scaiomi and Kit- | ■raU Bay residents. The licrcc southerly gale disorganisnt the movements of the 'mosquito'' fleet of steamers, while ■tins after elleets were visible in a largo rollicking swell and foaming breakers ■from Palliser to Terawhiti. The L'enguin had a rough passage from I'ieton. ■A big sea swept aboard anil smashed two deck forms and ilcslroved the after ■pinnacle.

■ CROPS SI'rTKIiIXU IX CAXTJilUiL'ltl'. Cliristehurcli, Saturday. A heavy southerly gale blew all night ■with incessant rain. The weather generally is causing fanners uneasiness. Not, only U the harvest, which should lio ill full suing, derived, but x'l'iolis damage is threatened tile ciop>-landing in the. stook. The rain of December was ample for the i'ci|iiircment* of Ihe grain crop, but the rain has I'aliWl almost every day since the new year. I and the grain in stook, especially hurley, lias already siill'ered. Saiuplc-'uf eariy oat and grass seed on oiler show that ■ -these suffered from the unfavorable | climatic conditions, and reports from all I districts speak of the grain laid by the (■emtinuous wind and rain. Ths will add to thi'. labor of harvesting, reduce returns and deteriorate quality.

1 II'KAYi I'.AI.V AXI) KNOW IX i CAX'IT,I!HU.I!Y.

Christcbiirch, Saturday Night. The weather has moderated, and there appears to be. -nine hope that it will settle line. Owing to the inclemency of the morning all cricket and swimming fixtures were postponed. Keports from North Canterbury state that the luuvest has ]>cen, put behind at least a fortnight, so that instead of being at the usual appointed time it will be well on to February before the main wheat harvest gets into swing. ' In 48 hours th« .country settlers ev iperienccd a rainfall of 1.42 inches on tin 'l'lains and a snowfall on the back hills (Hie crops (llnt.tcnod down by formei rains), under tile influence of the lieavi gusts hist night, lutve the. appearand to-day ofhaving had a roller over them In tile potato lields water was lyiiij

'between the moulded vows. Stock (if all kinds felt tin; storm of lust night keenly, and tlit- farmers who have suffered 'tile, depredations of caterpillars devoutly hope it is an ill wind that would not do some good. They hope the chilling 'blasts will exterminate the pest, which the. small liirds hare found a task 1111-' equal to thorn. The rivers to-day were all reported to he very high. The Waimakariri was hank to bank.