THE SUN SHINES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 121, 23 May 1914, Page 6

THE SUN SHINES

FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS SET IN. As predicted by the Dominion Meteorologist, this morning sa-w Welling* ton freed from the grip of the semi-An-tarctic storm which has proved such an unwelcome visitor during the past two weeks, and early this afternoon the skies were sunshiny. The weather has been showery and very cold, and at Methv.m (South Cantrrbury) yesterday there was eight 'inches of snow, but. except in the East Coast districts and in the extreme South, the conditions showed a decided improvement this morning. The bar> me>er it- now above normal everywhere, aud the southerly winds have decreased. The present indications are for fair to cloudy weaHier. though cold and changeable conditions are likely to prevail for a. short time on the East Coast of the North Island and ir. Southland. Moderate to strong south-easterly winds aro probable here, but they are likely to change to northerly about to-morrow evening or Monday. LENGTHY TRIPS As was reported yesterday the ferry steamer Maori did not, reach Lyttelton wharf until after 9 o'clock yesterday morning, missing the first express. On arrival back at Wellington this morning it was ascertained that tho trip south was the worst experienced since last winter. For the most part of tho journey the vessel had to beat against the strong southerly, together with heavy head seas and _ frequent rain and hail squalls. Conditions changed about thirty miles from Lyttelton, when, instead of head sea, the vessel had a following sea, with a swell from the north-east. Tho return trip from the southern port was by no means so unpleasant, and the Maori arrived here up to time. Vessels on the East Coast have been particularly unfortunate, and the latest experience i comes from the Monowai, which arrived in port last evening after a lengthy _ passage of twenty-six hours from Napier. The average time occupied on this trip is about fifteen hours, but the severity of the south-easterly gale greatly retarded the vessel's progress. _ Together with this, heavy seas and thick rain squalls were experienced, making matters decidedly unpleasant for those on board. In consequence oE her late arrival the Monowai sails to-day for Dunedin direct, omitting the usual call at Lyttelton. The tramp steamer Henrik Ibsen (from New York) is making a long passage down the coast, having left Auckland at 7 a.m. on Tuesday last for Wellington. She was sighted by the Monowai off East Cape at midday on Wednesday. The Borderer, which arrived in port this morning, also met, tho rough weather, and occupied over three and a half days on the trip from Auckland. She brought a part load of hardwood from Bunbury for this port. BELYING ITS REPUTATION IDEAL DAYS ON THE WEST COAST(BY TELBdIUPH— PRES3 ASSOCIATION.) GREYMOUTH, This Day. While many parts of the Dominion have been experiencing bad weather, the West Coast has been favoured with ideal days. The average monthly rainfall for Greymouth so far this year is 6.7, or Bin less than* the average for 1913.