THE RECENT GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9389, 12 June 1889, Page 5

THE RECENT GALE.

[from our own correspondents].

Whangarei, Monday.The most common topic of conversation we have at present is the great storm which has just passed over. Commencing on Thursday morning, the 30th May, the storm lasted until Friday, June 7, the rain falling in sheets day and night almost without a break for the whole of the eight days. Considering that the river has risen about HO feet, less damage has been done than might have been expected. Whangarki Hkads, Monday.—Rain commenced here on Wednesday night, the '29th ultimo, and continued with scarcely! any intermission up till Sunday, the 2nd instant, when it moderated a little, but only for an hour or two, and began again with greater forcc than before, continuing until Thursday, the 6th instant, when it came to its climax, and afterwards abated. Friday dawned a beautifully mild and clear morning, and some windbound vessels sheltering in the harbour sot sail and departed. But the day which turned out so fine towards evening gave signs of change. The wind, which was all along from the E. and N.E., again began to blow, and the rain descended in torrents till towards Saturday morning. It veered round to the N.W., and the rain became less, though it remained squally and showery up to last (Sunday) night. Though the weather was so stormy the barometer did not indicate any great change for the first few days. On Saturday, the Ist instant, it registered 30*10, and thereafter it continued steadily to fail till Saturday morning, when it recorded the low figures 28*05. The average temperature was about GO - . Fortunately, so far as yet known no casualties have occurred in the locality. Matakoue, Saturday.—On Wednesday, May 29, the glass commenced falling from 30.35, and rain fell on Wednesday night. On Thursday it began to blow, and from Thursday night till Monday last, June 5, it blew almost a continuous gale from the N.E. and E. On Thursday it rained very hard, with an easterly wind, and on Thursday night the glass rose slightly, and the sky cleared. On Friday we saw the sun for the first time in eight days. In the evening, however, it began to rain heavily, and to blow from the N.E. Just before midnight rain came down in a perfect deluge, the wind suddenly lulled, and the sky in the N.E. was lit up every now and then with sheet-lightning. About two a.m., the glass still dropping, it began to blow from the W., and at eight on Saturday morning, when my aneroid stood at 29.00 (the lowest I have ever seen it in New Zealand), it was blowing a heavy gale with very hard squalls.