WESTERLY GALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 149, 25 June 1923, Page 7

WESTERLY GALE.

AN UNPLEASANT WEEK-END. HEAVY RAINS EXPERIENCED. TOTAL OF 7.23 INCHES FOR MONTH. Fickle weather was again experienced in Auckland over the week-end when, after being fine in the morning and in the early part of the afternoon on Saturday, rain clouds banked up towards the evening. A sharp shower also fell about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, after which it held off until 8 o'clock, when heavy intermittent rain set in for the night. The weather was squally yesterday with a sullen sky, broken now and then by fleeting patches of sunshine. The rain continued during the night, and this morning broke equally unpromising. Drizzling showerß fell during the day, but at noon there was a lull and the sky cleared a little. The rainfall for the twenty-four hours ended at 0 o'clock yesterday morning was .23in, and for the ensuing period ending at the same hour this morning was ,38in. This makes a total fall for the month of 7.23 inches, or 3.18 belW the heaviest recorded fall for June, which was experienced in 18S9. The temperature rose slightly yesterday, the maximum in the shade being 57.2 degrees and the minimum 51 degrees, while on the grass the thermometer only fell as low as 49 degrees. The westerly wind which was experienced over the week-end, registered 157 miles for the twenty-four hours. The reading of the barometer yesterday morning was 29.707 in. This morning it had fallen to 29.534. EFFECT ON SHIPPING. The stormy conditions out at sea are having effect on vessels making for ports on both the east and west coasts. The Flora, en route from Papeete and Raratonga to Auckland, was duo to arrive in port to-day. Owing, however, to the south-westerly gale which she is encountering, she has had to reduce speed and is, therefore, not expected to arrive here until Wednesday afternoon. The Hauraki, bound from San Francisco to Auckland, is apparently not so much affected by the gale as the Flora. She was due to arrive to-morrow, but a radio message states that she will now reach port about three o'clock on afternoon. The Marama, en route from Sydney "to Auckland, has the wind in her favour, and will arrive in the harbour well up to time to-morrow at 8 o'clock in the morning. On the west coast the Aupouri is the chief steamer affected. She wan due back in Onehunga yesterday morning from Hokianga, but the heavy weather made it impossible for her to clear the Hokianga Heads. She will, therefore, not arrive at Onehunga before to-morrow morning. The Arapawa, after being bar-bound at the Manukau Heads since Friday, was able to conI tinue her voyage to the Waikato Heads at 9.15 this morning. The John, which left Onehunga on Saturday morning for Wanganui, was also unable to negotiate the bar until 8.40 this morning- ± . . Cargo operations on steamers in port have been delayed somewhat, but to no serious extent. SNOW REPORTED ON THE WAITAKERES. Reports of small quantities of snow having fallen on the higher hills of the Waitakere ranges on Saturday are made by two or three residents, while a similar statement is made by the driver of the coach from Karekare to Glen Eden. SEVERE FROST AT CHRISTCHURCH. (Ey Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The severest frost experienced this season occurred this morning, 13.4 degrees being registered. A bitterly cold southerly is blowing to-night.