AN EASTERLY STORM.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVIIL, Issue 5402, 30 August 1909, Page 2

AN EASTERLY STORM.

Heavy rain, accompanied by a strong easterly gale, set, in at a late hour on Friday night and continued without intermission till about 1.30 p.m. yesterday, whew the wind dropped, nnd the rain ceased for a few. hours, but set in again at 5 o'clock, afterwards dropping to a drizzle and- e>xnvtU|aVy cleftrtinjg at linearly hour this morning. One of the panes of glass in the windows of the Tauranga Gas f'ropriothry's showroom on the Strand was blown in between 6 and 7 o'clock on Saturdny morning, with the result that a number of -globes, glass ehd'inneys, etc., were broken. Three other windows in various premises on the Strand were smashed by the force of the wind, but goods were not damaged in these instances. Trees and fences have suffered in many* places, but no serious damage is reported . In- the evening the sloops closed up at 6 o'clock.

IThe s.s. Wnio.tahi had a rather rough experience on her trip from Auckland to Tauranga. Tho vessel left Auckland at 5 p.m. on Thursday in the -teeth of a stiff northeast gale, and Captain Hopkins found it< necessary to -shQltor in Drunken Bay forthe night.; The voyage was resumed -ore Friday morning at 6 o'clock," although the gale hud moderated very little. The steamier -ran woll to Slipper Island, where a big sea was running and the weather was very 7 thick. Anchor was dropped aibout 4.30 jp,m. close to the 'auxiliary ketch Fairburn, which was also sheltering. The gale continued to increase in violence,' but Captain Hopkins decided to set out i'or Tauranga at 6 a.m. on Saturday. Everything went well /until the entrance was readied, where a terrific soa *vas running. In negoti-ating the entranco. itwo heavy seas in rapid succession came over the stern, capsiainig 'the gratings, aitd breaking tho. sal oon skylight, allowing a good deal of water to find its way into the sajloon. No othor damage (resulted and Captain Hopkins made fast anongsido the Town Wharf at 11.45 o*m. The Waiotahi left on her return trip -at 8 a.m. to-day:

The steamer Tasman also had a rough experience. She left Auckland nt 11a.m. . pn Friday, but tho weather was. so boisterous that Captain Faulkner deemed it udvisa'ble .to shelter at Waiheke Island, where the vessel remained, till 1.30 a.m. on Saturday, when the force of tho gale made it necessary to shift to Drunken Bay. The weather improved somewhat on Saturday and the passage was resumed at 9 a.m., a fair run being made to the Cape, wnere it became as rough and thick as beforo. The steamer anchored oIT Mercury Island at 5 p.m. on Saturday, and remnined there till 8.30 on Sunday, when it was decided to face the heavy swell. Tauranfea being eventually readied at 7 o'clock- last evening. Thw Tasman left for Ohiw-a nnd Whakatane at 8 o'clock this morning. '