A CHRISTMAS GALE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 274, 28 December 1909, Page 2

A CHRISTMAS GALE

EXCITING EXPERIENCES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Sunday. A terrific south-westerly squall burst at the start of the ocean yacht race for t ; the Rudder Cup on Friday evening. The „ Pera (Messrs. Honlon (2), Mason and v Anthony), was dismasted, and the u Yvonne' (Professor Scott, of Chrislcihurch), "was tossed over the mole at j, titngo heads' by a huge sea, and she j, humped; but not severely. The Carina „ and Ro-na came to grief also, and ran in v under Taiaroa heads for anchorage. The ~ squall happened just as the starting gun „ was fired, and the vaclits were carrying , evcrv inch of canvas. The Pera appear- t ed 'to lie riding all the. easier . for being rid of her too hamper. , so Commodore Haiilan, in his motor yacht, the onlv sizable craft proscr-i f went to the rescue of the Rona. which I was in a perilous position close to the rocks' at Harrington Point. Her stern was within a fathom of the breakers when she was towed clear and taken to the comparative shelter of the Maori ' kaik. The commodore then' returned full speed to Port Chalmers for the Lady |

Roberts, defence ve«el, which left for the scene at 11.30 p.m. By the time she ! reached the heads the Pera had disI appeared, and a heavy south-westerly ' gale was raging. At 4 a.m. on Christmas 1 Day the racing cutler Aornngi put nut I I and searched northward along the coast, and s'aw a vesesl, which she look to be the Pera, in Waikouaiti Pay. Meanwhile the Lady Roberts had made another fruitless'search, but learning what the Aorangi had sighted she put to sea again at 2.30 p.m., and during Christinas Pay news came through that llie dismasted vacht was off Danger Reef, at' Moeraki', with two sea anchors out. A launch was sent out, and she was towed inside, after having been driven by the gale .W miles the previous night. The Pera's hull is not damaged, and all on board are safe and s'onnd. The Yvonne,

after bumping tbe mole, luffed, and at the first lull she ran for sea room. She beat in and up the harbor against the gale on Friday night. Her sails >.«• badly torn. The damage to canvas and cordage is considerable, and several hulls' must be badly strained. All the yachts abandoned the race owing to the heavy

weather. There were an astonishing number of hairbreadth escapes, but the display of seamanship was excellent.

Christchurcli, Sunday. The gale spent itself early this morning. In the afternoon dust was blowing m"the streets. In North Canterbury th" gale was felt severely, but no serior.s damage is reported. ' Christchurcli, Last Xi'.'M.

The ferry steamer Mararoa. ' : ch was held up in Wcllingte-i '.. ;.'.,.;r on Saturday night by the mi;::.. inous sea running across Cook Strait and the harbor entrance, reached l/rttelton at 4.J5 a.m. to-day. She left Wellington wharf with about 100 passengers lute on Saturday night, but owing to the violent gale and terrific seas which were breaking across the Heads, Captain Manningdecided to anchor until more favorable conditions obtained. The weather ha'ing moderated somewhat, the Mararoa got under way about noon yesterday, and cleared Wellington Heads about 12.30 p.m. The vessel ran straight into a very high sea, and at once commenced to make matters unpleasant for those on board. The weather was so bad in Cook Straits that Captain Manillas: slowed the Mararoa down to ten knots, and after that the vessel behaved bstter and matters were more comfortable on board. As the vessel got down the coast, the weather rapidly improve;!, mil b "• " fine after the vessel had passed aKikoura.

Timaru, Sunday. Friday was a busy day in town, and. with fine weather, passed off well; but the Christinas Eve shopping parade was cut short at 9.30 by a 'fierce southerly dust-raiser. During the night useful rain fell. The southerly continued throughout Saturday, but it was drv. The rain was very welcome in tiie country.

Wellington, Sunday. After a spell of fine weather, a wild southerly storm burst on Saturday over Wellington, culminating at night in one of the severest storms known for years. A good deal of minor damage was done ashore. A washout on the Hutt railway necessitated a temporary deviation of traffic to the old line. A man named Crawford, a member of the crew of the yacht Patroness, was drowned on Friday night, apparently having fallen overboard while the rest were below. A cry of distress was beard. As the others got on deck, Crawford was seen" momentarily, but sank before assistance could be given. The Mararoa was unable to get away from Lyttelton last night owing to rough weather. She cleared the heads at 12.30 to-day. The Maori, which left Lyttelton at 10 o'clock last night, had to make two attempts to enter Wellington, and succeeded the second time at II a.m., after oil bugs had been brought into use. The ferry steamer Cobar was torn from her moorings at Day's Day. Luckily she had steam up, and was thus able to make straight for Wellington. ■Many pleasure boats in the vicinity of Day's Bay met with minor mishaps. Tlie Union Company's launch Karamea broke from her moorings and was piled up at Kaiwarra. The oil launch Meo, which was anchored at Rona Bay, broke away and was thrown upon the rocks at Mnhena Bay. The steamer Auckeudale, which left Auckland on Wednesday evening for Wellington, has not arrived yet. K is supposed she is sheltering on the coast.

The steamer Rakanoa reached Wellington to-night nfter a tempestuous

time in Cook Strait, found from Westport. She met with a hurricane ott Temwhiti on Saturday night, and for sonic hours could only keep her hend to sea. A great Bca broke on deck over tho quarter, smashing skylights and flttinga. Men had to go aft to straighten things up, and four were caught by a succeeding sea and badly injured, having to be removed to the hospital on the steamer's arrival. The weather is now calm, and Cook Strait comparatively smooth.

Wellington, Last Night. The gale blew out last night and today was beautifully line for the noliday. The worst experience during the storm was that of the liakanoa, a collier','lrora Westport. She was within a few miles of (he Heads when (lie weather broke with such force that she was driven to sea and tossed about all Sunday, being continually swept by waves. The skylights were smashed and the cabins Hooded. While trying to fuel".] down coverings three men were hurl -1 across Hie deck and severely injure] Anthony Murray had two ribs brok'u and his head gashed. Frank Thomas received a gaping wound on the instep Robert Matt son had his shoulder crushed. Another man named Farrey was badly bruised by another sea. The liakanoa did not get in till 3 p.m., and '.<y all accounts had a narrow escape. The injured men were removed to the liospi till.

The Clasgow tiamp steamer Auchcndalc, with oil from New York, via Auckland, also had s rough lime She encountered the storm at davli-dit on Christmas Day, and in twelve hours made about 12 miles. The decks were awash, the officers' quarters Hooded,ami tile stern so'frequently high out of tlr water that the racing of the engines damaged them, and repairs will be needed. The captain says it was lie wor I wither he has ever experienced. Keports show the weather "cncrailv fine to-day and the southerly has blown out except in the far north of Auckland.

During [lie gale on Sunday, the inycrlnv dragged two anchors and United on a mud bank at Shoal Ba.and was |o„-ed off by the harbor tu*» uninjured. " The Celtic King, which left for Valparaiso on Friday, returned last night. She met the gale ,100 mile from ric coast, and was swept by heavy seas which washed away 150 tons of coal on the fore deck, and caused minor damage.

Wanganui, Sunday. | The holidays so f ar have been spoiled by the weather. Christmas Kve was beautiful and warm, but n change occurred about midnight, and Christmas Day was cold and wet at times. In the evening heavy rain set hi, with a high wind, which increased to a violent gale and raged till noo n to-day. Hnvoo. was wrought in the gardens. ' As' the afternoon drew on the conditions changed for the better. °