A BOISTEROUS NIGHT.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1898, Page 5

A BOISTEROUS NIGHT.

Though yesterday was unpleasantly rough in town, th« wind which then blew was zephyr-like compared to the strength of the gale which prevailed throughout tho night. The whole forces of the north-west seemed to have been given a free 11 hand. Vessels which left the harbour yesterday afternoon* and evening did so under almost bare poles, whilst steamers postponed their departure until better weather prevailed. Considering the force of the gale, the Telegraph Department was agreeably surprised to find this morning that beyond the downfall of some poles between the Hutt and Silverstream no damage had been done. A few interruptions were caused in the telephone service, and a pole was overturned in front of Mr. Bulldoy's house at Karori. The records at the Museum show that the wind travelled 730 miles during the 14 hours, which, at a rate of 50 miles an hour, was heavy blowing. The gale moderated about midnight. Yesterday evening the glass fell from 29.8 to 29.5, and a rain squall occurred about 10 p.m., but this morning, which opened beautifully fine, the mercury began steadily rising again. At midday the wind went round to the south, and, with a rain-squall, considerably^ altered the face of the sky. Heavy south-west squalls were experienced at New. Plymouth last night, a strong westerly gale blew at Napier, and heavy north-west gales at Blenheim and Nelson. Raiu fell at Russell. No report is to hand from the southern West Coast or Otago. The weather at Christchurch was drizzling.