THE WEATHER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1169, 27 July 1894, Page 35

THE WEATHER.

A violent thunderstorm, accompanied by heavy rain and hail, was experienced in the city on Friday. The flashes of lightning were very vivid, and the rumbling of thunder culminated just at about a quarter to 2 in a terrific peal, while at the same moment a remarkably heavy fall of rain and hail occurred. The peal of thunder frightened horses about the city, and a- pair of horses harnessed to a cab on the stand opposite the Dresden Company’s premises bolted along the quay in the blinding sheets of ram with the driver in pursuit. They were stopped near the Times office. A clerk in one of tlie offices in the city who was using the telephone at the time received a very unpleasant shock, and he was encircled by the electric current. The storm soon cleared off, and the -weather for the remainder of the day was clear and fine.

Captain Edwin states that the atmospheric conditions now prevalent over a very wide area are most unusual, and an exceptionally low depression from the west has been approaching - this country since the 15th instant, its lowest pressure being now near and probably south of Stewart Island. The barometer reading at the

Bluff at 9 a.m. on Friday, 28 - 68, is the lowest that has been observed there since Bth April, 1591. Very unusual conditions are also prevalent between here and Sydney, where the barometer on Friday morning registered 29 - 9, being a difference of an inch and two-tenths from the Bluff. There is also a remarkably high pressure in Western Australia, where the barometer has registered between 30 - 50 and 30 - 40 since the 15th inst.

Captain Edwin states that there are now strong evidences of heavy gales in most parts of the country between midnight on Thursday and midnight on Sunday.

By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, July 20. Snow continues to fall in the back country. The weather is bitterly cold, and fierce gales are being experienced along the coast.

Sydney, July 21. It has been snowing continuously for the past six days. At Oberon, on the hills west of Sydney, the country is completely covered, and stock is likely to perish for want of food unless a change occurs shortly.

At Kiandra the snow reached the housetops, and the townspeople are indulging in exercise on snow-shoes from the roof of the Kiandra Hotel.

Although the weather is bitterly cold in Sydney, no rain has fallen for many weeks. Sydney, July 24. Storms of the wildest description are raging off the coast. The barque Vivid, bound from Kaipara to Melbourne, has put into harbour, having lost the whole of her deck cargo and had her bulwarks damaged. The small coasting steamer Violet is missing.

The s.s. Phcebe makes another start to search for the missing steamer Duckenfield as soon as the weather moderates. This time she will zig-zag across as far as Wellington.

The Lachlan and Murray rivers are in flood, and a considerable quantity of stock is perishing. Kiandra presents the appearance of an Esquimaux village. The houses are completely snowed in, and the Kiandra Hotel is approached by a tunnel cut through the snow.

The Hauroto and Rotokino arrived today, they saw no sign of the missing steamer Duckenfield. The Phcebe sailed for Wellington to-night in search for her. The Violet has turned up safely. Melbourne, July 20.

Fearful gales have been experienced along the south coast during the past week.

Hobart, July 20. There is severe weather all over the colony. Heavy snow has fallen in Hobart. Brisbane, July 20. Mr Wragge reports that the present severe weather experienced in Australia will improve before the expiration of five days, but very heavy weather threatens New Zealand from Wellington southwards.

Brisbane, July 24. Mr Wragge predicts squally weather with rain in the southern districts of New Zealand.