GALES AND RAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 15, 17 July 1937, Page 10

GALES AND RAIN

LITTLE SERIOUS DAMAGE

LAUNCH BEACHED

Though it appears to be improving i little today, the weather in Wellington yesterday and last night was some of the roughest this winter. There was driving, heavy rain, and gusty s6utherly gales, reaching 61 miles an hour at the peak of the storm at 12.10 a.m. All sports today, with the exception of the final Rugby trial at Athletic Park and the club runs of the irrepressible harriers, were put off by the conditions of grounds and weather. Considering the fierce gusty nature of the wind, the damage done was slight. Neither rail, road, air, nor sea services were seriously interrupted, and electric power services, which usually suffer in gales, had no damage to report. Patches of surface water collected in the city, but there was no drainage blockage. Motorists found the conditions most unpleasant and difficult, but no serious accidents have been reported. Those parts of the coast open to the south received the worst buffeting, and a launch at Island Bay was beached. The wind was felt very strongly along the coast from Paekakariki, but no damage is reported.

Traffic is blocked 'on the Western Hutt Road by a large slip near the junction with Hay wards Road, cutting 'off access to the Manor Park Golf links.

No damage to railway communications or permanent way occurred as the result of the rough weather. The sea was breaking over the wall along the Hutt Road this morning, and slightly delayed the incoming trams from the Hutt Valley by interfering to some extent with the signals, but the line remained undamaged after high tide today. Last night spray broke over the carriages. MOTORING DIFFICULT. -The Automobile Association reports that driving conditions were extremely bad in Wellington and the surrounding district, particularly after dark, when, with driving rain, drivers had the greatest difficulty in picking up objects on the road. Several minor accidents were reported, the causes for which could be more or less directly attributed to the driving conditions. Passengers by the 4.30 p.m. railway bus from Wellington to Upper Hutt were slightly delayed yesterday. After stopping to put off a passenger just before reaching Taita Gorge, near the new golf course, the vehicle was taken j a little too close to the edge o£ the I road and two of the wheels sank into a soft patch, canting the bus over to that side. The ground was very sodden, and it was found impossible to move the vehicle from its position after the passengers had got out by the safety door at the rear. The driver, with the aid of a passing motorist, was taken to Lower Hutt, where another bus was secured to take the passengers to Upper Hutt. The heavy bus was in the same position this morning. Nobody was injured. LORRY DRIVER'S EXPERIENCE. Motor drivers who were on the main north road from Wellington last night and in> the early hours of today—particularly if they were travelling towards the city—felt the full force of the storm. The driver of a big seventon, lorry, which, fully laden, was returning to Wellington from Levin, stated today that after midnight, between Pahautanui and Porirua, he had the engine full out but could not attain a greater speed jthan twenty miles an hour, so fierce and strong was the wind. Apart from this, at every corner he could feel the lorry being slewed to one side by the wind, and this necessitated a tight grip of the wheel and some extra steering to keep the lorry on the road.

The harbour, both last night and today, was one place to avoid. A coastal vessel leaving port early this morning had a hard struggle with its bow facing the storm. An observer from the coastal road lost sight of everything except the topmasts in one of the heavier pitches, and the foredecks shipped heavy seas.

Stomachs were tested on the Eastbourne ferry runs, but the weather was not severe enough to affect the schedule. Patronage, naturally, was poor.

Huge breakers pounded the Island Bay front, the rocks lofting vast plumes of spray. A large fishing launch, the Sorrento, owned by Mr. S. Volpicelli, broke away from her moorings early this morning and was beached.

As the brunt of the storm was experienced overnight, air services were maintained. No adverse reports were received by the owners of the largest coastal fleet, and the Maunganui, due in Wellington on Tuesday from Sydney, was not affected.