THE WEATHER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 4072, 29 March 1888, Page 3

THE WEATHER.

The gale of Taesday and yesterday expended its fury during the afternoon, and laat night the weather, so far cs Oamaru was concerned, wa3 comparatively calm, though still very cold. The gale seems to have been experienced all along the Eist coast of both iaUnds, and, according to the information to hand, a good deal of damage wa3 done. The telegraph lines suffered considerably, and communication was interrupted in several places, and has so far been only temporarily restored, between Ashburton and Christchurch, we are informed, some seven telegraph poles were blown down, and communication was also interrupted between Christchurch and Sumner and Lyttelton, and north of Wfcllin»ton. So far a3 we know, no very material damage has been done in this district, and in this respeci wo have been more fortunate than some other places, as will be seen from the telegram which we give below. After the above was in type we learned that the linos wore clear up to Wellington, but that messages coutd not be accepted for stations north of that place.

WRECK AND OTHER CASUALTIES. (by telegraph.) . CKEisTCHtrRCH, March 28. A very heavy son'-wester is blowing here, and considerable damage has been done to windows and trees. The Tramway Company's stables, built of brick with an iron roof, was wrecked at five minuteß to 12 o'clock. The front was blown in, and several sheetß of iron were stripped off the roof. No one was hurt. March 28 (evening).

The sou'-west gale is still (8 p.m.)blowing, though not bo strongly as during the morning. Considerable damage has been done by the wind, which was the strongest experienced here for several yearg. A large number of trees were blown down, and windows were smashed. Some few chimneys were also blown down. At Messrs Lightband, AllaD, and Co.'a tannery a corrugated iron shed Only one man, a young fellow named Pritchard, was under it. His left arm wai broken and his left leg severely bruised. The ketch Conrior, while anchored in Pigeon Bay, broke from her moorings, and ran on the rocks and sank. No one was on board. A very heavy sea at Lyttelton washed over breakwater, and for a time it seemed as thongh the vessels at the wharves would part their moorings. The schooner E. and U. Cameron had her stem smashed against the breakwater, and was with difficulty saved from being wrecked. One of the hopper barges parted her stern chains, and the hulk Derwent parted her moorings. _ Both vessels were re-moored without injury. March 29. The weather cleared this morning, and is now fine.

Timaiu;, March 28. The weather is fearful. A south-east gale has been blowing all day. The shipping in port rode out the galo Bafely, but the terrific sea wrecked the saltwater baths buildings. A breakdown occurred just before noon at Edward's boarding house. A sudden gust struck the large chimney stack and disintegrated it in a moment, and down the bricks came teariDg away with them some woodwork and iron roofing. The wind, thus finding an inlet, then wrenched off the snouting, roofing, etc. bodily. Mrs Edwards received a violent blow on the head from the descending brickwork, and was rendered unconscious. The kitchen and rear part of the house was completely wrecked.