A SOUTHERLY GALE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 69, 20 March 1908, Page 5

A SOUTHERLY GALE.

The short spell of fine weather was interrupted yesterday, when intermittent showers of rain fell to the accompaniment of a cold " snap" induced by a south easterly wind. A heavy guic passed over the city late last night, and the weather continues stormy. A big sea is running on the West Coast, and the sea is by no means calm on this side of the Island. The telegraphic communication with stations south of Napier was interrupted yesierday afternoon, but the service was restored to normal last night. The Takapuna arrived at Onehunga this morning after an exceptionally lough passage from New Plymouth. She encoumered some of the heaviest seas Captain Jiutciiings has seen on thu coast. They rushed tit the vessel from aU sides, and *vie idea of their force may be gathered from the fact that although the iakapuna is a fast boat, and was running before the gale, some of the heaviest seas broke over aft. The Takapuna passed tho Rarawa at - o'e.ock this morning, some Go miles from New PlymiuLh, and she was " tearing into it," said Captain llutch'uigs. " S-he was almost standing on end.' There L a. tremendous sea running on .he Maimkau Bar, and the shipping on ihe .Manukau i≤ tied up in consequence. The Claymore, winch was to have sailed to-day lor RagUm and Kawhia, will not be dispatched until .Monday next, while the Xakapuna's departure lor .New l'lymouth and Wellington has been postponed from this afternoon until 0 a.m. to-morrow. The following notice was posted at the telegraph oliicu to-day: —Work south of .XiipiiT showing over two hours' deJay. Wires working badly. CORINXA'S ROUGH TRIP. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. The steamer Corinna arrived at the breakwater this morning after a very rough passage from Wellington. At times the vessel was standing almost on end, with her bow out of the water and the stern submerged. The engineroom door was smashed in, and three feet of water found its way into the stoke-hold. A fireman was knocked down by a heavy sea, and had to receive medical attention here. A little damage was caused on deck, but the cargo was undamaged. The Rarawa also had a long and rough ' trip from Onehunga. HEAVY GALE AT XAPIER. SEVERAL YACHTS "BUNK (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! NAPIEK, this day. j A heavy gale raged last night, aud half a dozen yachts moored in the inner harbour were sunk. The weather to-day was so boisterous that a further postponement of the swimming championships was made till to-morrow morning. WEATHER FORECAST. The following js Captain Edwin's weather forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day:—"Southerly strong winds to gale. Jlain probable. Glass rise. Weather probably much colder."