BOISTEROUS WEATHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18026, 27 February 1922, Page 6

BOISTEROUS WEATHER.

♦ COPIOUS FALL OF RAIN. EASTERLY GALE ON COAST. . WEEK-END CONDITIONS. Very boisterous and rainy weather was experienced in Auckland during the weekend. A strong wind blew from the northeast, accompanied by heavy rain squalk With the exception of two days, the weather had been fin« for the three weeks up to Wednesday night, when light rain Began to fall. Occasional showers were experienced until Saturday morning, when they became more frequent and heavier. The wind, which had been from the north-east for some days, began freshening on Saturday morning, until it increased to a moderate gale. As the wind increased, the rain became heavier until last evening, when it was falling in a steady and copious downpour lor some hours. Shortly after midnight a thunderstorm of short duration passed over the city. The weather showed no indications of clearing at an early hour this morning. The rainfall for the 48 hours ending midnight, as registered by the Herald gauge was 2.25 in. The barometer had been high for an unusually long period, tho readings having ranged between 30.26 in. and 30.00 in. for about 14 days. On Tuesday tho reading was 30.35 in. It began to fall slowly then and continued falling until last night, when it recorded 29.b6in., MISHAPS TO HARBOUR CRAFT. YACHT ROMP GOES ASHORE. The strong wind and somewhat rough sea in the harbour wag responsible for a number of mishtps to yachts and small boats during the week-end. Four yachts —the Waitui, Gannet, Lilac and the Eileen B.—capsized in tho harbour on Saturday afternoon while taking part in tho Victoria Cruising Club's annual regatta. The mishaps to the Waitui, Gannet and Lilac, which were competing in the race for 18-footers, ocourred off Shelly Beach reef, all the crews being picked up by various boats. The Eileen 8., which wag racing in the handicap class for 14-footers, overturned off Northcote, her crew being rescued by a ferry steamer. A number of other boats blew out their sails, while the 26-footer Starlight and the 18-footer Bon Bolt collided off St. Mary's Beach. The former carried away some of her running gear, and the latter ripped her mainsail rather badly. The 34-foot keel yacht Romp parted from her mooring off Judge's Bay, and was driven ashore. There she received a severe buffetting on the rocks. The yacht had her cruising gear and sails on board. GALE AND SHIPPING. DELAYS TO VESSELS. An easterly gale, accompanied by a heavy sea, has been blowing on the coast for some dayß, and interfered with the movements of shipping. The weather moderated somewhat on Friday, but the gale increased again on Saturday. The Kakapo was due at Auckland from Lyttelton at about 8 a.m. yesterday, but had not put in an appearanco at a late hour. The Maheno was expected to-day from Sydney, but she reported by wireless thtt she would not arrive here before 7 a.m. to-morrow. She is probably being delayed by the gale. The Waitomo, which arrived from Nauru - bland on Saturday afternoon, experienced an easterly gale, with high seas, for six days before reaching Auckland.