THE GALE.

Feilding Star, Volume II, Issue 527, 21 March 1908, Page 3

THE GALE.

STRONG WIND AND MUCH 11A1N. [pee press association.] Gisborne, March 20. A heavy south-easterly galo set in last night, and is still raging. The rainfall for the past 24 hours has been 4,15 in, making the total so far for this month 6.44 in. Tho average for March for the past thirty years is 4in. Wellington, March 20. Last night there was a heavy gale, accompanied by a thunderstorm. Sheds were blown down and verandahs uplifted. Heavy river floods occurred, but thero was no damage. The rainfall fon the twenty-four hours was 4.12. Tho river is still nsTho southerly gale continued all last night and to-day, with intermittent raiin. From 9 a.m. yesterday to -the samo hour to-day tho wind averaged a volocity of 451 miles an hour and the total speed for 24 hours, 1012 milles, is a record for Wellington. Shipping was, of course, interfered with to some extent. Vessels arriving report experiencing heavy weather Masterton, March 20. Farmers are jubilant over the abundance and continuous ram. About one and a half inches have fallen since the rain set in. The visitation will be the salvation of the whole of the district, and the effeoth, in improved vales, is already apparent. The weather to-day is cold and wintry- . „ . „„ Hastings, March 20. During the last 56 hours 1.63 inches of rainfall have been registered. It is still raining steadily. Masterton, March 21. Tho rainfall during the last twentyfour hours toalled 1% inches, audit is still raining. Rivers are slightly up, and though the rainfall is very steady and continuous, it is not likely to cause floods. The whole district is benefitting to an incalculable extent, especially root crops. Stock is suffering slightly from cold and wet combined, after the abnormal heat for so prolonged a period. Auckland, March 21. The stormy weather conditions have abated somewhat on the West Coast. The Rarawa and Corinna, which arrived from New Plymouth this morning, had rough trips, but sustained no damage. Napier, March 21. The Wimmera had a rough passage from Wellington to Napier. One heavy sea smashed the Akaroa Rowing Club's new four-oar* boat, rendering it useless for regatta purposes. Wellington, March 21. Rough southerly weather still continues. Lost night the wind increased in violence and did much damage to fences, electric light lamps and signboards. Shipping is disorganised, and vessels arriving this morning report having experienced very rough weather in the Straits. The average velocity of the wind for the past twenty-four hours is 62J miles.