WESTERLY GALE AND RAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13224, 9 July 1906, Page 5

WESTERLY GALE AND RAIN.

SHIPPING DELAYED. The strong westerly gale which has been }../•' prevailing along the coast and in the Tasman ;■'■ Sea during the past week was strongly in evidence in Auckland on Saturday aaid yesHf terdayi accompanied by frequent heavy rain >"■"' squalls. On Saturday morning .the wind, which was from the north-west, blew with extreme violence, some of the squalls being of almost hurricane force. There were several severe thunderstorms, with forked • lightning, some of the flashes being very vivid: Heavy rain fell during the morning. In the afternoon the weather moderated somewhat, but during the night the wind again increased, with heavy rain squalls. Yesterday morning the wind shifted a little into the westward, going into the southwest in the afternoon. Last night the gale still continued, with frequent rain squaills. All vessels arriving on Saturday and yes-.] I ;; ' terday from the coast reported extreme j weather conditions, and a number of mailing j vessels and steamers on the East Coast are barbound ait various places. On the West Coast the weather has been extremely severe, and the steamers arriv-1 , ing yesterday experienced rough pas- . sages. ■.. . A.'":-. _ '.;■■.',■' .'■■■ The Northern Company's steamer ' Ngapuhi, which left Onehunga for New Plymouth yesterday afternoon, could not cross the Manukau bar, owing to its rough state, raid anchored inside the heads for the night.

• The Northern Company's steamer Aupouri, which left Auckland for Tauranga on Friday night, had a rough passage down, and also on the return trip yesterday morning-; X :' ": , ' The iNorthern Company's Paeroa, which was due from Mercury Bay and Kuaotunu on Saturday evening, did not arrive until aquarter past nine p.m. yesterday, having been delayed by the rough weather. She was unable to land her cftirgo at Kuaotunu, * and hud to bring it hack to Auckland.' The Union Company's steamer Manuka, which left Gisbotne at eleven a.m. on Saturday, did not reach Auckland until shortly, before ten a.m. yesterday, her passage having bsen prolonged by meeting with strong head winds and heavy seas across the Bay of Plenty. ' , '' ' •■' • The Northern Company's steamer Waiotahi and Mangapapa are still barbound in the Bay of Plenty. . . . The auxiliary schooner Kaeo, from Auck'land to Gisborne, arrived at Port Awanui on 'Friday, where she is detained by the westerly gale. ' ,;,.,.•- The schooners Awanui and Gisborne, the Ihree-masled scow Southern Isle, and two . pth'eu scows are sheltering at Waiapu. The Union Company's steamer Mokoia, ' irhich arrived from Sydney last evening, experienced strong northern and north-west winds, with high following seas, crossing the iTasman Sea. . '.";;'/ The s.s. Haupiri, which arrived on Saturday afternoon .from East Coast ports/ was much delayed on the passage. Approaching the East Cape last Thursday morning a heavy westerly wind sprang up, and when (he cape was reached the wind was blowing <i hard gale, with fierce raiin squalls. Finding that it was impossible to weather the cape, Captain Campbell decided to run hack, and anchored under Waiapu Bluff, : where the steamer remained until Friday ; morning. - By that time the wind and sea had 1 decreased, and the passage was resumed, but until the gulf was made on Saturday afternoon the weather wa,s> bad. .■..•■,-,■ -

ROUGH PASSAGES OF SYDNEY STEAMERS. ' By Ttt'grtfiti.—Picas Xe&ociaiida'.— Copyright.!' : Sydney, July 7. •_■ The s.s. Victoria, which left Auckland at half-past tenon Monday last, arrived this -~''' morning, after a very rough trip. The / • ' steamer struck the gale immediately she , left port, ;.',nd stormy conditions with high • scats continued to reaching Sydney. '•;-,. Sydney, July 8. The s.s. JmJraghiri, which arrived from -' Dunedin to-day, experienced terrific weather ' throughout the voyage, . which occupied close on 10 days.•; Tremendous seas caused Hie vessel to knock about in an alaiming ' ■■ . manner.- • ■'■:,'■,■..-,'■