THE RECENT GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12932, 31 July 1905, Page 4

THE RECENT GALE.

STEAMERS DELAYED.

EXPERIENCES OP THE PENDLE HILL. 1 The gale which prevailed along the coast ' ' on Thursday and Friday last was of a some what cyclonic character, the wind ran™* ' from between north-north-west and east! ' south-east,- changing with great suddenness '' from point to point. The gale was accoffi paused by a tremendous sea, which is described by those who experienced it as one ' of the heaviest prevailing on the coast'for '' many years. On Saturday the wind blewstrong from the south-west, with frequent - heavy squalls of rain, but moderated in the - '- evening, and yesterday was a clear sunshiny ; ' day, with a gentle breeze frd'ra the south- ',' west

The Northern Company's steamer Mangapapa, which left Whnkatano for ' Auckland on Thursday afternoon, fell in with the full - : force of the gale, and had to .shelter under Mayor Island until early on Friday morning. The weather having then moderated - the steamer continued on her passage, but the wind'and sea increased so much' that •"• she had to put into Port Chatties in the afternoon, where she remained until five a.m. on Saturday. By that time the wind ' and sea had gone down, and the harbour was made on. Saturday morning. The Northern Company's. steamer Patroa ",-v was much delayed on her passage from the : North by the extreme severity of the V: weather, and did not reach Auckland until Saturday morning, nearly a day later than " : usual. After leaving Houhora, the steamer <sfell in with a strong gale and very heavy, sea, and finding if impossible to- make head- ' way against the bad weather the steamerran back to Houhora, where she ' remained until the weather moderated. - »*}

The Northern Company's steamer Waitangi, which left for the North on Wednes- : day afternoon, fell in with the gale at" Houhora on Thursday. On coming out on her way north the wind and sea increased greatly, accompanied by very thick weather i and heavy rain. On approaching Pare- jngarenga nothing could be discerned ex- ■ ■ - cepting the white foam on the bar. After >' about two hours dodging off and on tie land '.was picked up, and (She steamer 'wot' ; inside safely. The severe weather still, con-" ''-' turning no cargo could either be landed or shipped at Perengarenga, and the steamer went on to the other ports and met fine ■■ weather on the ran down to Auckland. '.." The well-known barquentine Pendle Hill, " which arrived at Auckland from Newcastle on Saturday morning, had a. very lively ex- •"* perience in the gale. The' vessel : sailed from the New South Wales 'coal port cm * • July 18, and met with fine weather "and ' southerly winds until nearing the New Zea- '"' land coast on Wednesday last, at which •' . time the vessel was between Cape Maria Van Diemen and the Three Kings.~.'; The:;«'s barometer stood at 30.25, when it commenced to fall,|,,uHtihat noon on Thursday it stood at 29.67. The wind was then blowing hard from the east-north-east, 'the vessel '' : being under lower ■ topsails and doublereefed mainsail. The barometer fell suddenly to 29.25, accompanied with squalls, of : f; hurricane force. The wind then, shifted by ;■' the north round to west-south-west. At this time the vessel was heeling over with her lee side under water, being in that posi- ■ tion for over two hours. The wind then . took off somewhat, and the barometer rose to 29.45. The vessel,was put on her course ■ again at four p.m. under the foresail and lower topsail. , At-edght p.m. the barometer "CkV stood at 29.60, at which it remained. -Tie , North Cape was rounded at nine p.m., and' down the coast strong west-south-west and ' west-north-west winds, with 'heavy squalls y v and showers, prevailed .until making. port - early on Saturday morning. . , ... . ' '•'-' [by- telegraph.—press association.] , ;,■:■: ..-'.. '■.'-,,,-,., : ':.:', Gisborne, Sunday. .'• .; The jpassengers, from Auckland by. the Tarawera were>• landed at a-quarter to five \-.[ p.m. to-day, after a very rough trip from V; the East Cape, the journey from there tak- . : J ing two hours and a-half longer than usual. '•-.! '.;*: