THE WEATHER.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10267, 9 February 1899, Page 6

THE WEATHER.

The heavy south-west rain that continued throughout "the night, eased otf during the forenoon. A strong, cold wind afterwards prevailed, accompanied by occasional Bhowcrs. There is still a large amount of harvest work to be got through, but no uatn.ige to the cut grain is feared, while the iciaj-v.ulure Keeps &>j k»w. Heavy rain began to fall at Lyttelton ab./ut 9* o'clock on Tuesday night, aoad continued with more or less seventy, occasionally ..ccumpiuin-d with luui, during the nignt, unil until yesterday afternoon, when the Weather c.caml. Vhe rain was lrom the south-west, m>lll which violent squalls of wind blow. These* in tho harbour was pretty rough, and the tide was remarkably High.* No casualties of any moment occurred amongst the dipping, but the ballast lighter, Squirrel, was driven on the Shag i<ock. At Lyttelton yesterday business amongst tho- shipping " was at a standstill in consequence of the weather. During the night and until shortly bei'ore noon rani sqlulls, accompanied occasionally with hail, lollowed one another iv quick succession. 'there was every indkuiiun of a heavy str.t raging outside the Heads, and no surpcjsj was expressed at the liuu-arrivul of the Flora, wiih Vancouver mail ln.'in Wellington. The southerly gale tlulavcd her, mid she did not arrive until 8 o'clock lust I'l^'v In tho N(.rtu Canterbury district yesterday there was a. constant series of somberly giuL.s in wind and nun. the wind drivng tue rain iruo/ .'.xiick arm slook. While the weal her remains co.d. lit dc harm is being done, though immcrs aru fidgety as to liia drying. Our hicMTH-re. corronrmdent wrote: — Thruagiumt tht day heavy showers oi rain and siwt have latiiMi, accompanied by a strong wind. t'nc temperature lias been ex-cejit:i>i-»lly low all day, at 11 a.m. being AM, mid .it a p.m. W. 'i'lie cold weather Liu* tn.vn the ;.Uv;itif,a of the giain crops, and st> lav m< damage has incurred except ttiut the haxity ;inu oats are disccioureU. Km.wing tho anxiety It-IL lor the satety <<-' tho wheut crops, aim tho Keen interest taken in the harvest pruspjots lilTs year, at <2 p.m. 1 went out anu examined a heavy paddock of wheat, Uiai. bus been in stooK lor tluee weeks, ilio strong wind lias biown Over a largo number oi stvoks in this padUt.jk, a quantity of tho sheaves being on t.ie ground. In tho standing ttooks, the rain lias driven hah through Uie sheaves, ut the " tops and on tne aouth-vest side. Tne grain is wet, but not solt. On careful examination oi the ssiieaves lying on the ground, 1 found the β-lieai w*>t riglu itirough, and thu gram a little soft, but not vnougii to in any way damage it. This means that so far, the wheat is not at till damaged, and while the prueenti cold weather continues there need be uo anxiety whatever. Of course, if the tvuitber Jecanvo warm, dull and showery, tho grain is bound to sprout, but there is very little danger of this taking place, liarley was all more or less discoloured before tins rain commenced, while oats will bs used tt:r teed purposes, and a little colour will not damage them very much. The wet wuathur is damaging tne potatoes, on anything like- dry land, a rapid second growth iuia commenced. In tho Courtenay district a good deal of wheat is still in stock, and a considerable amount not stooked, and fanners would be well pleased to see the weather clear again, although the ruin was very much needed after tne excessive iieat and dry nor'-westers. Most of the grain is now reaped, and a considerable quantity in stack, but had the wheait been allowed a few days longer before each operation, it would have been much better. About tenr days would see harvesting through (writes our correspondent), and although very little threshing has been done, , the yiekb of wheat wHI not be heavy, the ebeavee in the majority of cases handling light. Oats, oa the ot&er hand, will yield troll. Pastures of all loode will be much benefited by therain. Tbe-turnip crop looks ■well. Our Rakaia correspondent writes:—Some oate show tie effects of the rain. We have not heard of any wheat being seriously damaged vet, but unless drying weather is •oon experienced results must be serious. On Tuesday night (writes oar Springfield correspondent) the downpour of rain was extremely heavy for some hours, with a low temperature, wlech left the ranges covered with a good coating of snow. Several men have left by coach, taking with them a lot of shovels for road repairs. It is stated by persons that Jmve come through recently that .tiie repairs will not be completed under two months, aad that tho railway between Otira and Aibbe ie in a very oad state. All harvest opetataone below here are at a complete standstill, and no stacking can be attempted for some «.-a-vs, even with the weather in its most favourable aspect. Heavy rain fell at 'Pimaru last night, followed by a good drying wind. The weather i» very'colcJi and the ranges are capped with •DOW. .~, (PRESS ASSOCIATION , TELEGRAMS.) WELLINGTON, February 8. Bain has ceased, but haa been succeeded by a strong cold south-east wind, which has raised a heavy sea, and interfered with the smaller shipping Notwithstanding the -phenomenal fall of rain clouds of dust were blowing in the streets to-day. Singularly, little damage on the railway lines is reported. A slip at tha Summit on the Kimutaka line delated train oboiit an hour, and thare was a small slip en the Man&watu line, but no other obstructions have co far occurred. Since Sunday 7.78 mof rain fell. J The Rotomabana for Lyttelton and the for Westport could not face the sea in the Straits, and are inside the Heads waiting for a chance to get out . DUNEDIN, February 8. A cold wintry snap has set in, and a good deal of rain is falling. *