FIERCE EASTERLY GALE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 8

FIERCE EASTERLY GALE.

ROUGH SEAS ON COAST.

RAPID FALL CF BARUMETER.

DELAYS TO SHIPPING.

THREATENING CONDITIONS.

Exceptionally stormy weather was experienced at Auckland yesterday when the wind blew a moderate to fresh gale from the eastward. The day was somewhat wet but the showers were not very heavy. In the evening the wind increased and blew at times with severe violence and the rain fell more frequently.

There was a choppy sea in the harbour, especially at high water, and ferry steamers and smaller craft had considerable difficulty in making headway. The ferry steamers continued to run as nearly as possible to time-table, but owing to the adverse conditions they were at times late.

The yacht Thelma and the launch Matareka" broke adrift from their mooring yesterday afternoon, and they were considerably damaged before they were towed to a safe position by a harbour launch.

In spite of the weather conditions a large number of visitors were taken during the afternoon by ferry stearcers and launches to the warships in the stream. The high wind and increased sea in the evening prevented any of the small craft running" excursions around the fleet. A proposed moonlight excursion by a ferry steamer was cancelled. Heavy Storm at Midnight. A remarkable aspect of the weather conditions has been the exceptionally rapid fall of the barometer. It was unusually high on Tuesday when the reading was 30.4 in. Since then it has been gradually • falling, and on Thursday night it registered 30.00 in. Throughout yesterday the glass fell steadily and at midnight . last night the reading: was 29.35 in., a fall of .65in. in 24 hours. After midnight-the fall continued and at 2 a.m. the reading was 29.25 in. The weather conditions at an early hour this • morning indicated that a very severe storm was approaching. The wind was increasing and blowing in hard squalls. Very, heavy rain - was falling, but the conditions were of a very threatening character. The rainfall for the 24 hours ended midnight, as registered -/ the Herald guage, was .05in. Gale on the East Coast. A severe easterly gale, accompanied by very rough seas, was blowing on the East Coast yesterday and was delaying shipping t^iere. The Karori, bound from Westport to Auckland,, reported that she was steaming against a gale between Cape Maria and Cape Brett, but was making very little headway against the adverse conditions. The vessel ,is bringing bunker coal for H.M.A.S. Adelaide. It is doubtful if the warship will be able to leave Auckland with the remainder of the fleet, as it is doubtful when the ' Karori will arrive. The Waiotahi, which had been aground at Parenga since the end of last week, was refloated yesterday, when she was to , have sailed for Russell to ferry passengers out to see the fleet there. Advice received yesterday stated that the Waiotahi was unable to leave Parenga on account of the heavy sea on the bar. Oveaseas Vessels Delayed. The stormy conditions extend far out to sea and are being experienced by vessels bound to Auckland. The Federal Line steamer Dorset, en route from Liverpool with 289 third-class passengers as well as a large cargo for New Zealand, reported earlier in the week . that she would arrive on Monday, but yesterday a further message sent from the vessel stated: "Hope to arrive on Tuesday, but weather very bad." The City of Adelaide, bound from New York, sent a wireless message yesterday stating that she was delayed by a storm, but hopes to reach here on tuesday if the weather moderates.

The New Zealand Shipping Co.'s steamer Turakina, en route from Liverpool, reported yesterday that she will arrive on Wednesday, but owing to the stormy conditions she has encountered her time of arrival is uncertain.

The Union Co.'s trans-Pacific steamer Wairuna is also being delayed by the storm. She is on her way from San Francisco, and was due at Wellington on Wednesday. Owing to the delay the vessel has reported that she will have to call, at Auckland first to replenish her bunkers. 1 She is expected here to-mor-row.