STOMY WEATHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17483, 29 May 1920, Page 6

STOMY WEATHER.

heavy SEA IN HARBOUR.

DELAY TO SHIPPING.

FERRY BOAT'S ROUGH TRIP. Cold and boisterous weather was experienced iD Auckland yesterday. Heavy showera of rain fell at intervals throughout the day,and also in th« evening. In the morning a south-westerly gale wag blowing which raised a heavy sea in the harbour. When the steamer' Paparoa arrived the conditions were at their worst and the 287 passengers on board the vessel gained anything but, a favourable impression of their future home. The gale was raging at its height at about 10.50 o'clock just at the time the Customs landing officer, Mr. Grant, and his officials left the Ferry Wharf in the launch Sambo to board the liner, which was anchored in tho stream: Th water was exceedingly rough quite close in shore, and as the launch progressed towards the ship it became worse. A Trying Experiences. Once alongside the Paparoa there was a sharp thunderclap, accompanied by torrential rain. Some difficulty was experienced in getting the launch into a position convenient for those on board to mount the pilot's ladder slung over the after part of the ship, and some minutes elapsed before Mr. Grant was able to grasD the ladder and ascend to the ship s deck. A constable followed, 'and then the storm became so- 'fierce that it was impossible for anyone else to get aboard the ship. Tho launch then went back to tho wharf, but a little later tho Customs officials again set out, and this time, after a good deal of trouble,, succeeded m boarding. It wa a very trying experience. _ Storm-tossed Perry Boat. The passengers on the Peregrine had at» exciting experience during the vessel's 10.30 a.m. trip from Devonport to Auckland, a squall of extreme severity suddenly descending just after she had left Stanley Bay. Tho land on cither side wa9 completely obliterated from view by the density of the rain, and although the boat was kept to a course up the harbour directly heading the wind, rather than risk the run in the face of a side sea, .i succession of waves broke over the lower deck. It was with a feeling of thankfulness among the passengers that the Auckland wharf was safely reached. During the same squall the barqnentine Lindstol. which was lying at an anchorage off the Stanley Bay" Wharf, dragged her anchors and drifted into dangerous proximity to the cable steamer Iris before finding a firm holding ground off the Admiralty Wharf. Loading Not Suspended. In spite of "the rain work on the waterfront was continued throughout the day and.also last night. The Government steamer Hinemoa, which was to have called at Tiritiri on her way up from Wellington, was unable to effect a landing, and will call there on Monday providing the weather is favourable. A strong south-westerly gale was experienced on the Manukau yesterday, The bar was unworkable on account of the heavy sea running, and it was found necessary to postpone the departure of the Rarawa for New Plymouth. The Rimu's departure for Hokianga was also postponed until to-day. The rainfall for the 24 hours ended at midnight, a* registered by the Herald* gauge, was .13 inches.

Mr. Wrftgge's Forecast. The following weather forecast was issued by Mr. Clement L. Wraggo an halfpast seven o'clock last evening: — " The western half of the great Antarctic disturbance Uphaz covers all the Dominion. The centre, however, is passinn away eastward, and the barometer i* rising steadily. This, during the early future means more bad weather from between west-south-west, south-south-"west, and south-south-east, with heavy rain squalls, snow in the South, and rough seas along the entire west coast. But within the next 48 hours conditions chcnld improve and Swidav should be much finer over the Auckland Province. There is another larffi* disturbance in the sun." STORM AT HAMILTON. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE.

[BT telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.]

HAMILTON, Friday. A severe storm was experienced last night. Heavy rain fell early in V e evening and later a gale arose, and .it midnight was blowing with almost hurricane force. This morning exceptionally heavy rain fell. For the twenty-four hours ended at nine o'clock this morning the rainfall was ,98in.

Considerable damage is reported. Many large trees and portions of fences were blown down. A large iron shed was blown from its foundations, and the framework of a two-storey building which was being erected at Claudelands was razed to the ground.