WIND AND RAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 7, 8 July 1935, Page 10

WIND AND RAIN

SOUTHERLY STORM

WELLINGTON LASHED

ONLY MINOE DAMAGE

After having been singuarly free this winter from the worst type of southerly weather, Wellington during the weekend, in company with most of the Dominion, had a taste of decidedly wintry and unpleasant weather. When, during June, New Zealand as a whole, and especially the South Island, was having snow storms and oilier concomitants of winter, Wellington escaped lightly, but not so this time, although the Capital City has often had worse weather than that which prevailed yesterday. The East Coast area between Cook Strait and East Cape had the worst of yesterday's weather, Wellington sharing it.

Saturday, lor which bad weather had been predicted, was almost too good to be true. It was comaratively mild and balmy—almost a spring daiy—although occasionally there were light wisps of rain from an easterly quarter. With a fairly high and steady barometer as their guide, amateur weather prophets reckoned on Sunday being an equally pleasant day, but the official meteorologists thought otherwise and said so in advance, and the latter were right.

Wellington woke up on Sunday morning to find that the wind had gone round to the south and was. blowing strongly. Driving squalls of rain continued all- day, and it was without any doubt a day for the fireside and not one on which to. be out of doors .if one could possibly help it. Any ideas of solid work in.the garden or of outings were .abandoned. The rough weather continued throughout last night but, although conditions early this morning i were, still decidedly unpleasant, there, was a' slight improvement as - the morning .wore on., Although atmospherically:conditions- have been about as unpleasant as possible, temperatures :haye not descended to the depths, which is something to be thankful for, • .

. Although the unpleasant weather is not as yet quite, finished1 with, further rain being predicted, together with strong southerly winds, there are prospects of an improvement tomorrow- '.'■■••■

Any. damage done by Hie storm appears to have been of a minor nature. Shipping naturally had an unpleasant time, but yesterday, being Sunday, there was a minimum amount of work on. the waterfront to.be delayed. The sea' running in the harbour was a fairly.rough one, but not unduly so. Much spray was blown across the bay road, but.very little more than spray. There was water, everywhere, but no serious flooding, the worst accumulation apparently being on some of the low levels at Petone where surface water was slow in draining away. The wind in a few instances did minor damage to telephone lines, loose fencing, boards, insecure outhouse roofs, and similar things which always suffer in rough weather. The heavy rain brought down one or two slips, but these ; were of, a minor nature. On the other side of the Rimutakas the road was temporarily blocked by a slip, but this was quickly cleared. The Hutt River is. now running strongly, much water coming down owing to the heavy rain up the.Valley. .

The.rainfall lor the weekend totalled 145 ■• points altogether at Kelburn. just over an inch (100 points) falling yesterday. Lower Hutt had heavier rain, 172 points , being recorded, just over one inch and a half falling yesterday. ...;.. EFFECT ON SHIPPING. The trans-Pacific mail and passenger steamer Maunganui arrived here in the stream shortly before 7 a.m. today and berthed just over an hour later. Although she was on time, the vessel met heavy seas and high winds during her trip from' Sydney. Stormy weather was encountered after leaving Sydney, after which conditions, moderated. Last night, when ,the vessel was entering Cook Strait, very high seas were encountered, and this morning some of the passengers were still suffering from the effects of sea-sickness.

, The Japanese . motor-ship Sydney Maru, which arrived here this morning from Geelong, also had a rough trip. She was-a day later than schedule, and will not now leave here for Auckland before tomorrow afternoon. En route from Auckland, the tanker New Zealand' had not put in an appearance this morning, although she was due here early today.

The Coptic and the Port Gisborne, both of which were loading at Napier, had to put to sea on Saturday- on account of heavy weather. The Coptic is now due here on Wednesday, and the Port Gisborne on Thursday. Held up by rain at Wellington, the Rangitiki cannot, now leave here for Auckland before tomorrow. A number of coastal ships are a day or so late. The cqllier Canopus, en route from Westport with coal for Wellington, reported this morning that she was sheltering at Long Island until the weather moderated. A number of other vessels have taken shelter, or have delayed their, sailings until the force of the gale is spent. SLIPS ON EAST COAST '■(By Telegraph—Press Association.) ■ GISBORNE, This Day. The down train from Motuhora to Gisborne ran into slips three miles north of Otoko at eight o'clock this morning, the engine and two trucks being derailed. No serious damage was done to the rolling stock and nobody was injured. It is hoped to have the section operating normally tomorrow, though difficulty is being experienced owing to the dearth of rolling stock and the lack of a relief engine. STILL UNSETTLED MORE RAIN PROBABLE i . ■ ; Special forecast for Wellington:—• Sonth-eastcrly winds, strong:,' and reaching gale force at times. Weather cold, changeable, and wet, ■ with further heavy falls of rain at times. There arc possibilities, however, of an .improvement by tomorrow. The general forecast for the Dominion as a whole," issued at noon today, is for moderate to strong southerly to south-easterly winds which will still reach gale force in piaces in and north of Cook Strait. The weather will continue to be unsettled and cloudy with rain in most parts. Further heavy falls are probable between Cook Strait and East Cape with some flooding. On the West Coast of the South Island the weather will be mainly ! fair. Temperatures will be cold, with snow on some of the ranges. I

Since Saturday a rather deep depression has been situated over the North Island. Its centre has moved slowly across northern districts and was located this morning to the north-east of East Cape. At the same time an intense anticyclone extends from east-

em Australia-: on to the South Island. As a result winds have been mainly south-easterly or southerly in direction. They have been moderate to strong generally, and since Saturday night gale force has.been reached in places about and to the north of Cook Strait. The weather has been unsettled with rain in most'districts, atlhough conditions on the West Coast of the South Island have, been for the most part fair. The worst weather has been experienced between Cook Strait : and East Cape, heavy . rain having occurred in that area. Te Karaka, for instance, reports'a fall of 217 points, Gisbornc 145 points, and Cape Palliscr 109 points. Temperatures have been cold, but not unduly so considering the strength of.'the southerly. It was snowing at Naseby. this morning. •

Auckland'had-dull-, weather all day on Saturday. The morning was'calm and a fog covered- the city. A. southeasterly breeze sprang up in the afternoon and some rain fell on Saturday night. On Sunday .there was a strong and squally south-westerly wind, the weather again 'being dull, . although only a few showers fell in the early morning. The weather this: morning was still overcast with a south-wester-ly breeze; . . '-

Wellington had fine, mild, and pleasant weather on Saturday. There was a little sunshine in the morning but the afternoon was dull. A light easterly to south-easterly wind prevailed, but during Saturday night, a southerly wind freshened and at 1;15 a.m. on Sunday rain set in and since then it has been almost continuous. -At times the southerly has ■ reached gale force. The rainfall at -Kelburn was.39 points on Saturday and 106 on Sunday, Lower Hutt having 20 and 152 points respectively on the two days.

Christchurch ■ has continued to have dull and misty weather ' with occasional light rain, six points on Saturday and 28 yesterday; On' Saturday the wind was a light easterly, but since early on - Sunday .. a soutlvwesterly breeze has prevailed. ■ ■ ..

Dunedin had fair: to cloudy -.weather on Saturday with a fresh wind from the north-east. Sunday's, weather .was cold, dull, and misty, with occasional light.rain which totalled 12 points. A strong south-westerly wind prevailed yesterday, but/a, light south-easterly was blowing this morning,, the weather at-9 a.m. being .-cloudy and misty.