STORMY WEATHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15560, 18 March 1914, Page 8

STORMY WEATHER.

SHIPPING DELAYED.

REFRESHED COUNTRY.

THE HEAVY RAINFALL.

160 TONS OF WATER PER ACRE.

The benefits that will be conferred upon j the country by the recent generous rain- i fall will bo immediate and far-reaching, f Scorched and dry pastures have, during 1 the past week or two, threatened the far- l mar, and particularly the dairy farmer, with serious loss, for a continuance of j such weather conditions would certainly . have meant a shortened season and possibly a lean winter. The good drenching < which the country has experienced, how- t ever, will, relievo the situation. The land being warm growth will be immediate, and thus the dairy season will be prolonged, and a good start will be given to autumn growth. The rainfall, measured in Allert Park by Mr. T. F. Cheeseman at half-past nine o'clock yesterday morning, was 1.58 in, a heavy fall for one night. It is interesting to note that this fall means that every . acre has been drenched with no less than 160 tons of water. The last measurable fall occurred on February 26 and 27, when .23in and .2in respectively were registered. The rainfall since January 1 amounts to 4.56 in, 1.32 in being recorded in January, 1.66 in in February, and 1.58 in to dateFor the corresponding period of last year the total fall was 5.59 in, the details being 2.64 in in January, 1.38 in February, and 1.57 in to March 17. Last year, however, rain fell five times during this portion of March, whereas this year it has fallen on one occasion only. The total fall for March, 1913, was 2.34 in. Showers fell at intervals during the forenoon yesterday, and must have enhanced the good done the previous night. At mid-day the sun began to shine intermittently. The sale caused no dislocation of the telegraph system, only one or two minor repairs being necessary. Work on Wharves Retarded. The heavy rain yesterday morning considerably interfered with shipping, and practically very little work in the loading and discharging of the vessels in port was done until the afternoon. The liner Nairnshire was to have Sailed last evening for Lyttelton and Wellington, but as the rain retarded the loading of Hcmeward cargo her departure was postponed until this morning. The Navua, loading for South Sea Island ports, was also delayed and her departure for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga is now fixed for 9 a.m. to-day. Although loading operations on the Victoria were considerably delayed, the vessel got away for Southern ports shortly after her advertised lime of ' departure. . The sailings of the coastal steamers were not seriously affected and the vessels got away for their respective ports on time, with the exception of the Rimu, whose departure from Onehunga for Wanganui and Opunake has been postponed until 10 a.m. to-day. The Kotiti was to have left Auckland at 8 a.m. to-day for Puboi, but she is now timed to sail at seven o'clock to-night. The Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Rangatira has been delayed in her loading opera- | tions by heavy rain at Wellington. This vessel was expected at Auckland to-mor-row, but as she will not get away from the Southern port until to-day she cannot arrive here until Friday morning. The Kini was delayed in discharging coal at ' New Plymouth yesterday, but is'expected to reach Onehunga to-day to land a quan--1 tity of her cargo. i dale in Bay of Plenty. The Northern Company was advised yes- , terday that a heavy northeast gale was blowing in the Bay of Plenty and that the Ngapuhi was held up at Tauranga. » The vessel left Auckland at 7 p.m. on Monday, and evidently experienced a rough trip to the Bay of Plenty port, as, she ' did not arrive there until 8.30 a.m. yestoday, an hour and a-half later than 6 usual. Owing to the continuous heavy i ram, the Ngapuhi was unable to work . cargo. She was to have left Tauranga a at 7 p.m. yesterday on the return trip. e but her departure has now been fixed for r 4 p.m. to-day. Ths Ngapuhi- is due at Auckland about 4 a.m. tomorrow, and will e sail at 7 p.m. the same day for Tauranga as usual.

The coastal steamer Auponri, which left Auckland on Monday afternoon for North coast ports, also experienced the full force, of the gale, as she did not reach Whangaroa until 4.30 p.m. yesterday, several hours later than usual. Th» Chelmsford, which left port on Monday evening for Marsden Point and way ports, returned yesterday afternoon. On reaching the gulf the vessel encountered very heavy weather, and as the conditions showed no signs of improving, Captain Joynt anchored his vessel in Islington Bay, where she remained until noon yesterday. The Chelmsford will sail this evening as usual for Marsden Point and way ports. A telegram received from Ohiwa states that the coastal steamer Tasman, which left here late'on Saturday night last for Whakatane, is weatherbound at the former port. Unless the weather improves, the Tasman will probably not arrive here until to-morrow or Friday. The Manaia arrived back from Whangarei last evening at her usual time, and the officers reported that although a heavy sea was still running on the coast, the weather showed signs of improving. Damage to Small Graft.

Considerable damage was caused to several motor launches and yachts which wero anchored in exposed positions in the harbour during the worst of the g<de on Monday night. The 34ft yacht Gloriana, owned by Messrs. S. Herbert and E. Dean, suffered extensive damage to her hull and fittings at her moorings near the Wynyard Pier. The yacht's mast and bowsprit were broken, and the top-sides considerably knocked about. The owners state that the full extent of the damage done has not yet been ascertained, but it is doubtful whether the Gloriana is worth repairing. As the yacht did not break loose from her j moorings, and most of the damage is above ' the waterline, it is thought that the damage was caused by another boat bumping into her. The Gloriana is one of the best known yachts in Auckland Harbour, and has been a regular competitor in the yacht races for the past 20 years. The yacht Constance, owned by Mr. A. M. Pickford, came to grief at her moorings off Devonport, owing to a launch getting foul of her. The Constance had her bowsprit broken off, and her sail and other fittings smashed. The yacht Waione, owned by Messrs. Sutherland Bros., I was also damaged at her moorings at j Devonport, owing to another craft bumping into her, while the yacht Ilex, owned by Mr. J. C. Macky, had her bowsprit broken. Several launches broke loose from their moorings, and drifted about the harbour ior some times before they were secured.

One launch was found drifting beside the retaining wall at Mechanics' Bay yesterday morning.. It did not appear to be damaged to any great extent. The heavy seas in the harbour on Monday night carried away the boat staging at the Waitemata Boating Club's shed in Mechanics' Bay. THE CHOPS SAVED. REPORT FROM KAUKAPAKAPA. Our Kaukapakapa correspondent states that after a ' fairly long spell of dry weather, felt more acutely on account of the small rainfall of last year, welcome rain has at last come to hearten the farmers of the district. Crops of all kinds were suffering for want of water, and naturally stock, particularly dairy i cows, have gone off. Up to the time of writing nearly half an inch of rain has fallen, and atmospheric conditions presage ; a continuance of the showers. Reports from out-districts tell of good downpours, in some cases just in time to prevent serious loss by spreading fires. FALL IN THE WAIKATO. TURNIP CROP SAVED, [BY TEIffiGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT-] Hamilton, Tuesday. A splendid rain set in about nine o'clock last night, and continued throughout the night, and with slight intermissions until this afternoon, when up to 1.52 in had fallen. The downpour on 'Sunday afternoon was very local. It was heaviest at Hamilton, .94in being recorded. This break in the weather has proved most timely, as in all parts fears were being entertained fox the success of the turnip crop, in which a large amount of the winter feeding in this district depends. In many cases the early plantings were not successful, and second sowings had to be made, and these were just at the critical stage. DOWNPOUR AT WHANGAREI. WELCOMED BY TIMBER-WORKERS. [NT TEUiGRAPHOWN CORRESPONDENT-] Whaxgarei, Tuesday. Welcome rain has fallen at intervals during the past 24 hours. The Tesult wili be most beneficial throughout the district, where the drought conditions which prevailed during the past month "had had i most serious effect as far as settlers wen concerned. The timber "industry is hampered owinj to the fact that there have not been am floods during the past two years to float timber down the various creeks, and ii some instances the long wait has entailed a serious loss. The absence of freshets for such a lonj period has had an unexpected effect a! several points along the East Coast where in several instances the mouths o the rivers' have considerably shallowe< with drift sand- This state "of affairs i particularly in evidence at Whananaki where little in the way of improvemen can be hoped for until there is a freshe of sufficient volume to scour the rive channel. TIMBER MEN PLEASED. AWAITING A FRESHET. [Bt TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Daroayillb, Tuesday. A satisfactory fall of rain occurred las night and to-day, and there is every at pearance of further heavy downpours. The sawmill men are especially int< rCßted in the change of weather, for tbei are over 30,000 logs in the various creel ' awaiting a freshet.