SOUTHERLY GALE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 250, 19 July 1937, Page 10

SOUTHERLY GALE

Small Amount of Damage at Wellington SPORTS CANCELLED Reaching a speed of 61 miles an hour, the southerly gale which swept Wellington on Friday continued without abating on Saturday, bringing with it cold rain in heavy showers sufficient to deter all sportsmen other than those taking part in the Rugby trial at Athletic Park and a few hardy barriers, some of whom had to swim part of their course. Considering the force and the gusty nature of the wind, the absence of material damage done was remarkable and, apart from a blockage that occurred on Saturday on the Western Hutt Voad, road and rail communications were not affected. High seas breaking along tho Hutt Road were sufficiently strong to dash spray over railway carriages and at Island Bay a launch was beached during the gale. Motorists naturally experienced difficulty as regards visibility and, in some cases steering against the wind was no easy task, but no serious accidents have been reported. A report from the Electricity Department of the Wellington City Corporation stated that uo complaints, had been received and there was no damage to report. Heavy seas delayed shipping on Saturday, but Sunday’s moderated conditions eased the position. Sunday brought a welcome change with a diminished wind and clearer skies that allowed the sun to break through at intervals. SHIPPING DELAYED Heavy Seas Running on Saturday Last Friday’s southerly gale, which delayed shipping over a wide area, eased away during Saturday, and yesterday the sea had moderated and all shipping was on the move again. On Saturday morning it was still blowing hard, with a heavy sea running, and of the five ships up to leave Wellington during the morning, only one, the German steamer Gera, left her berth. The Gera left Miramar shortly after 8 a.m. and cleared the heads about 80 minutes later, though at midday she was still only a few miles off the heads plugging slowly into the heavy seas. During the afternoon the seas, moderated slightly and the Union Company’s motor-ship Kauri left at 3.30 for Lyttelton. The only other departures on Saturday were the Maori for Lyttelton and Matangi for Nelson. Tho Kaitoa, which was forced to put back on Friday night, remained in port and will leave at 6.30 p.m. to-day for I Nelson. Yesterday morning the motor- | ship Breeze left for Dunedin, and the M.-A.-N.Z, Line chartered steamer Tredinnick for Lyttelton, while during the afternoon the auxiliary scows Echo and Huanui left for Blenheim and Tarakohe respectively. Arrivals on Saturday were the Maori, Gale, and Holmlea, from Lyttelton, Matangi from Nelson, and Tamahine from Picton. The Maori experienced very heavy weather, but was only a few minutes behind her usual time, but both the Matangi and Tamahine were several hours late. The M.-A3N.Z. Line stc.._er • Canadian Challenger, which was due about noon on Saturday from Lyttelton, did not arrive until early yesterday morning. The Japanese motor-ship Brisbane Maru, from Auckland, arrived yesterday mornii; r over 24 hours late. The Poolta, from Greymouth, and Gael, from Hokitika, also arrived yesterday after sheltering at Long Island during the worst of the gale.

Going south last Friday night the Rangatira met the full force of the gale and was over two hours late in reaching Lyttelton. The Maori arrived at Lyttelton on time yesterday, and both the Gera and Kauri also arrived there. The Union Company’s steamer Omana, however, which left Wellington about 6 p.m. last Thursday for Lyttelton, had not arrived there yesterday afternoon, but is expected to make port to-night. She has been sheltering in Clifford Bay, .under the lee of Cape Campbell. The Storm, Holmdale and Kapiti, which were unable to clear Wanganui on Saturday, left yesterday for Wellington, while the Turakina, at Gisborne, and P»'t Fremantle, and Huntingdon, at Napier, are expected to be able to work those ports this morning. RANGATIRA IN GALE ■By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, July 17. The Rangatira was two and a quarter hours late arriving from Wellington to-day, having experienced the roughest trip yet. The fury of the gale and the high seas reduced speed to eight and a half knots. The vessel carried 411 passengers, and in Cook Strait it shipped two big seas, but sustained no damage. The seas flooded the captain’s quarters on the boatdeck.