THE WESTERLY GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16884, 24 June 1918, Page 4

THE WESTERLY GALE.

SHOWERS DURING WEEK-END. STRANDED CRAFT REFLOATED. Tire hard westerly gale, "which blew with such violence on Friday, moderated considerably on Saturday, but the weather remained stormy over the week-end. On Saturday morning the sky cleared, and bright sunshine gave promise of better weather. These conditions, however, lasted only until mid-day, when the wind, which was still blowing from the westward, freshened up from that direction, and showers were again experienced. Yesterday morning the rain squalls became more frequent, and in some cases were accompanied by thunder and lightning. Conditions became better as the day wore on and the night for the most part was fine, occasional showers falling. The weather on the coast is reported to be improving, and the sea has moderated considerably. Reports from the Manukau Heads state that the wind has dropped, and the sea on the bar has moderated, though it is still very rough.. The Rarawa crossed inwards from Ivew Plymouth at 9 a.m. yesterday, and the Rimu went down to the heads to await the opportunity of crossing outward for Hokianga, but the sea on the bar will have to be much smoother to allow her to do so. The Harbour Board's floating crane was on Saturday morning towed off the beach at Devonport, where she grounded on Friday, after breaking adrift from the Calliope Dock breastwork and colliding with the Pacific Cable Company's wharf, of which she carried away nearly 150 ft. The crane, which was towed off by the tug Te Awhina at high water, was found to nave sustained no damage to either her hull or machinery. The Devonport Ferry Company's paddlesteamer Osprey, which was stranded on the North cote Beach, was towed off by the Tugs Young Bungaree and Jumbo at 5 p.m. on Saturday. She returned to Auckland under her own steam. Apparently the slight bending of her rudder is the only damage she has received. The launch Kitty, which also went ashore at Northcote during the gale, was floated off on Saturday afternoon. The barometric reading of 28,85 in at 2 a.m. on Friday was the second lowest recorded in Auckland, the lowest being one in July, 1867, when it stood at 28.73 in. After touching 28.85 in on Friday the barometer rose rapidly until mid-day, when it registered 29.32 in, while at noon on Saturday the reading was 29.68 in, at which it remained fairly steady until last night.