THE WEATHER.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15267, 31 March 1910, Page 7

THE WEATHER.

HEAVY GALE IN THE NORTH.

RIVERS FLOODED.

COMMUNICATION INTERRUPTED.

MUCH DAMAGE DONE. [Pee Piiess Association.] AUCKLAND, March 30. Tho Ohiuemuri River was flooded toils banks at half-past seven this morning. The streets of tho township were flooded to a depth of three feet in places. The water is running down the main street at a great rate, the lower parts of the town being rapidly submerged. Most of tho shops in tho main fctreet are flooded. Houses in Rye Lane, Puko and Junction Roads are more or less flooded. So far no more serioua damage is reported, but the flood is bound to do a great deal of mischief. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 30. A howling south-easter is doing considerable damage in the town and suburbs. Many old buildings and fences have been destroyed, telegraph wires have been torn from their posts, windows smashed, and chimneys blown over. One gust of wind lifted a woman f 6omo feet in the air and dropped her and rolled her across the street. Fishing craft at Moturoa were sunk at their inooiings, but the Rarawa was berthed safely on her arrival from Onehunga. Slates from the roof of the new post office are being torn off, and the oil derricks at lUoturoa are believed to have suffered severely. It is tne severest blow experienced for many years. A storm burst over Taranaki early this morning with cyclonic fury, destruction in all directions marking its visit. Very little rain has fallen, but the hurricane-like blasts havo reached a velocity never hitherto experienced on this coast. At the time of telegraphing, 8 p.m., the gale shows no sign of abatement. Very considerable damage has been done, fences, stables, chimneys, verandans, trees, etc., being down in all directions. There have been many narrow escapes from flying iron and timber, but no casualties are reported. Large two-storeyed showrooms in Devon Street, just vacated, collapsed in a mass of ruins. All kinds I of reports are current of the overturning' of buildings, cpaches and traps in outlying districts, which it is impossible to verify, but everything points to tho damage being considerable. This morning the Taranaki Petroleum Company's No. 4 derrick collapsed. During the afternoon rejports reached town that No. 3 derrick also was a victim to the cyclone's fury, while the New Zealand Standard Oil Company's Vogeltown derrick also had gone. Falling trees in town disorganised several sections of , the telephone wires, while the electrio lighting lines were also out of gear in. some localities. There is scarcely a property not affected to some extent, and the- aggregate damage must be fairly considerable. Shipping is not venturing out of port to-night. GISBORNE, March 30. The storm forecasted by the Govern-' ment meteorologist duly arrived, a strong easterly gale raging with heavy rain. At nine o'clock 3.89 inches had been recorded for the previous twentyfour hours, making a total for fortyeight hours of 6.69 inches. Heavy rain has been falling continuously sin#e Monday afternoon, and at present there is no prospect of cessation. It is blowing an easterly gale. All the rivers are rising rapidly, and there is every prospect of a disastrous flood similar to that of four years ago. Already dead stock are floating down the rivers, and hundreds of acres are under water. The Monowai is sheltering at To Araroa. Tho evening train is blocked at Ormond, eleven mile* orit, ... by a big_ wash-out on the line. _ Settlers are having a most anxious time, and are removing stock to higher levels. The coaching service is entirely sns--pended. NAPIER. March 30. A storm of exceptional severity is raging over the district. The rainfall during the past three days totals nearly five inches. The rivers are in heavy flood, but no serious danger is at present feared. The rain continues, and the Tutaekuri River is in flood. Tho water i» hi"h up on the stopbank at Meanee, and portions of the Papakura district are flooded. ■ WANGANUI, March 30. j Rain commenced on Tuesday and fell' uninterruptedly till this morning. A heavy gale has been experienced all day. FETLDTNG. March 30. | A violent south-easterly gale struck! the town early this morning. acconiJ milled bv rain. The gale continues today, and is the worst experienced hero for a considerable time. So far, no damage is reported. » WELLINGTON, March 30. ; : The storm warnings telegraphed out! to the far north by the Meteorological: Office on Saturday have been amply! I justified. The north was advised to' look out for squalls on Monday, and' by nightfall the advance skirmishers' of a cyclonic disturbance had smitterij Cape Maria. Yesterday the tempest I developed and the howling winds rush-; ed down the island. Oil Thursdays night Fiji was struck by a hurricane,.' then the cyclone whirled westward to* Norfolk Island, and after a busy time/ jS \ there it veered to the south-east andT" headed for Three Kings. This niorrH , ing the centre of the disturbance wa> to the westward of Cape Maria van Diemen, and the line of march- was to-' wards East Cape. If the storm continues in its present track it will blow; down to the Chathams, but other forces may intervene. Already an enemy, ar» anti-cyclone (generally friendly to man) is working off the West Coast of the South Island, and tho high-pressure movement may tone down and divert the low pressure. At nine o'clock this morning tho barometer was .down to 29in at Russell, the lowest reading fop about three years. The energy of tho. vigorous gale this morning was felt northward of East Capo, Taupo, and Wanganui, and rain was general! in the island. Tiritiri had heavy; thunder and lightning. The wind wilt change by south-east to south and, finally to south-west. Wellington's share of the weather has not been sol heavy as the northern districts' por-j tion,'but there is yet time for a larger' demonstration here. In la few hoursthe wind hero may have more sting. The South Island, too, was- mostly under clouds to-day, but down by Invercargill the air was calm. The* tele-! graph office advised to-day that com-! munication with Auckland was totally! interrupted and work for north op Hamilton will bear heavy delay. lu-j formation received by tho Wellington Post Offico shows that the violence ofj the storm has been . well up to the forecast. Communication with Wai~ rangi, on the French Pass line, was also interrupted this morning. A swish* of the salo brought down a wire just when Paeroa was announcing its plight. Tho message ran:—"The heaviest flood ever known in Paeroa occurred this morning. The streets are submerged three or four feet." BLENHEIM, March 30. ] A gale of some _ force was experi-| enced in this district to-day and this' evening, but beyond the smashing of. trees, little damage is reported.