THE WEATHER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 73, 26 March 1906, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

AN BIPSOVEMENT.

There is a noticeable improvement in the weather to-day. The wind changing yesterday to the S.W., cooler weather set in, and the day on the -whole was fine. The stormy weather has. not. altogether yet disappeared, but apparently the worst of it is now over, and, according to Captain Edwin, Government Meteorologist, "probably; three days more will see it out."

In the course of an interesting interview Captain Edwin told a Wellington reporter that he considered the North. Island had every reason to congratulate itself on having got off so lightly from the effects of the recent hurricane, which did damage' at Norfolk Island. This storm, which was typically cyclonic, had a diameter probably of 600 miles, and possessed great energy. The wind was certainly qf hurricane force, and the barometric reading was very low. In the vortex, the direction of progress of the centre was east-south-eastward, apprxsaehing from New Caledonia, and passing slightly to the east of Norfolk Island. As the cyclone advanced, it decreased in energy. It was not as near to the North Island as the visitation which threw a mantle of bad weather over the whole colony for a week during the stay of the Australasian squadron at Wellington a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, this disturbance made its influence felt from last Wednesday night till Thursday night as far southward as a line drawn halfway between New Plymouth and Onehunga, and Gisborne and Auckland. While the disturbance was passing Norfolk Island, another of similar character, but of less energy, was approaching New Zealand on a parallel course. There is some satisfaction, however, to be obtained from the knowledge that it is decreasing in energy, and probably three more days will see it over. The centre of the low pressure will be far enough away to the eastward to allow of an improvement. THE GALE AT SEA. The steamer Victoria, which arrived from Sydney yesterday, experienced a moderate S.E. gale, accompanied by a very heavy sea after leaving the New South Wales port last Wednesday. The wind veered to the S.W., and increased to a hard gale at midnight on Friday, raising a high confused sea. The gale continued without abatement on Saturday, and towards evening, when the vessel was nearing New Zealand, heavy rain fell, lasting until early yesterday morning. Calmer, though overcast, weather was experienced during the remainder of the passage. The Victoria behaved splendidly in the storm, and her engines were only, slowed down on one occasion, and then but for a few minutes. The s.s~. Zealandia.. from the South, encountered a heavy S.W. gale and mountainous seas crossing the Bay of Plenty on Saturday night. Large quantities of water were shipped on board, but no damage was done to the vessel. The Zealandia was about five hours late in arriving at Auckland, where she put in an appearance shortly before eight o'clock last night.

The coastal steamer Waitangi from Tauranga yesterday morning, after a very rough passage, being-- delayed several hours.

The.s.s. Takapuna had a rough trip from Onehunga to !Me"w Plymouth, on Friday night, a 'heavy gale being experienced throughout. At New Plymonth considerable difficulty was experienced in berthing the steamer, the bows of Tvhich received several dents and a hole was also stove in a plate near the hawser j hole. The return trip to Onehunga was marked 'by good -weather.

CAPTAIN EDWIN'S .FORECAST.

The' following is Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day.; —"Moderate to strong westerly winds; glass rise." WESTPORT BREAKWATER .DAMAGED. . ' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WESTPORT, Sunday: The sea on Friday and Saturday was the heaviest experienced here for four years, and did considerable damage to the eastern, breakwater. SEXORITA IN A GALTS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, this day. The barquentine Senorita, which arrived to-day after a 20 days' voyage from Newcastle, experienced a succession of heavy N.E. gales. Her decks were constantly swept hy heavy seaa. The cook was caught by a, sea, and had three of his ribs broken.