RECENT GALES IN THE MIDDLE ISLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4159, 20 July 1874, Page 3

RECENT GALES IN THE MIDDLE ISLAND.

By the courtesy of the Hon. W. H. Reynolds, Commissioner of Customs, we were recently enabled to lay before our readers an interesting account of the stormy weather which had been felt at Auckland and other Northern Ports ; by permission of the same authority. Captain Edwin, R.N., has handed to us the following account of the gales which visited the southern and western coasts of the Middle Island between the 6th and 11th instant:— The unusually high barometer which was prevalent over most parts of the Colony during the early part of this month, was soon followed by severe weather, some of which has been experienced in the Middle Island. The first indications of approaching change were given by the rapid fall which took place on Sunday, the 6th inst., and which was particularly remarkable between Wellington and Bluff. On the 6th, at 8.30 a.m., the barometer at Queenstown had fallen from 30*20 on the sth to 29'58. At Bluff it had fallen from 30*20 to 29*50 during the same interval; and at Port Chalmers from 30*30 to 29*72. The winds were mostly N.E., fresh; and the daily report showed that bad weather was already so close to Bluff that it would be of no use to send any notice of its approach. At 10 a.m. a telegram was received from Oamaru, stating that appearances were threatening and that winds from N.W. to S.W. were expected; as’the curves for the southern portion of the Middle Island showed that such weather was imminent, warnings to that effect were sent to Port Chalmers and Timaru, and a telegram to Captain Sewell, the Harbor Master at Oamaru, stating that information received from other ports showed that his estimate of the coming weather was correct. At 8 p.m. intelligence was received from Hokitika that the barometer was still falling, and that affairs looked very threatening to the south-west. At Port Chalmers the wind came in of moderate force from N.W., at 9 p.m., and lightning was observed at south-west; barometer 29*35. At Bluff, a very high tide occurred at 7 p.m., and lightning was seen at N.E, Captain Thomson, the Harbor Master, reports that the barometer commenced to rise at midnight. On the morning of the 7th, the barometer was still low at all Southern ports. The wind at Timaru was a fresh breeze from west; at Oamaru, N.N.W., and calm at Port Chalmers, where, however, it came in a moderate gale from south-west at 9 p.m. Captain Thomson had reported, about 1 p.m., that he considered this change would take place, as the barometer had commenced to x*ise. At Oamaru and Timaru the wind does not appear t 6 have reached the force of a gate. Christchurch telegrams of this date describe the north-west wind thus blowing, as having approached in temperature to the hot winds of summer ; at this time it was stormy from N.N.W. at Bealey ; west, fresh, at Hokitika. Both of these three places are close upon the same curve, a fact which throws additional light upon the question as to whence these hot winds are derived. On this day (7 th) the wind was stormy at Bluff, from west ; and at Queenstown, from North. The curves show either that fresh disturbances were nearing these places, or else that the original gale had divided. By subsequent events the latter "■ seems to be the most probable, as on the morning of the Bth there were indications of the possible approach of another gale—the curve of 29’90 being over Bluff and Queenstown, the wind being to the westward of North at the latter, and to the eastward of it at the former place. On the 9th, the weather report showed that the expected disturbance had moved a little to the eastward, the wind being nearly the same as on the Bth at both stations. Warnings to expect bad weather were sent to Bluff, Queenstown, Port Chalmers, Timaru, and Oamaru ; and at i p.m., a telegram was received from Bluff, stating that the barometer had commenced to fall. Prom this time, bad weather came on very fast. _Mr. Worthington reports that during the night, P7B inches of rain fell at Queenstown ; and lightning was observed to the northward. The greatest force of wind occurred here during the night, and appears to have been from the S.E. At Bluff, it blew hard from N.N.W. On the morning of the 10th, the lines were down to Queenstown. The wind wan stormy from North at Oamaru, whilst fresh breezes from North and East prevailed at most of the Southern porta, and an unusually high tide was experienced at Port Chalmers. The lowest barometer on this occasion seems to have passed near Bluff, and during the remainder of the day the glass gradually rose ; and at 8.30 a.m. of the 11th, the only trace of the gale that can be detected is in the curve of 29'70 lying, over Port Chalmers. Wind W.S.W., light breeze. During this period some hard gales were felt on the West Coast of the Middle Island. On the 10th, warning was sent to Hokitika to expect easterly gales, and to Westport to expect bad weather from northeast to south-west. Later in the day, Captain Turnbull telegraphed to say that the barometer had fallen 0'25; that lightning had been seen all day to the N.W., and that a heavy sea was rolling in from the same quarter. On the 11th the lines were down at Westport, and information has since been received that strong winds were experienced at sea on that part of the coast between north-west and west. At Hokitiki, the wind does not seem to have reached the force of a gale; but it is recorded as being N.E, light breeze on the 11th.