STORMS IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17230, 5 February 1918, Page 5

STORMS IN AUSTRALIA

<» THE MELBOURNE CYCLONE. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AT BRIGHTON. Pre#* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Asaooiation. MELBOURNE, February 4. It is estimated that the storm damage will exceed £100,000. The storm, which was of tremendous force, lasted only a few minutes. Th& damage is chiefly confined to Brighton, where there was wholesale wreckage, whereas in the city itself and the other : suburbs the damage was light. Several people were injured by falling ddbris. THE QUEENSLAND FLOODS. GREAT DAMAGE AT PROSERPINE. BRISBANE, February 4. A message from Proserpine states that a record flood and cyclone have been experienced there, causing enormous damage, but no casualties. The Fitzrov River (Maryborough. d»< trict) is now falling. APPREHENSIONS AT. SYDNEY. A MISSING STEAMER. SYDNEY, February 4. (Received Feb. 4, at 9.15 p.m.) The tempest which wrecked Brighton ia now developing along the south coast, and is expected to reach Sydney to-night. Shipping reports terrific weather. Feara are entertained regarding the fate of the steamer M&rjorie, with a crew of 15, which left Adelaide in company with the Glancos on January 26. The Glaucus arrived at Newcastle on Friday, but nothing has beea heard of the Marjorie. MR CLEMENT WRAGGE'S PREDICTION. NORTH OF NEW ZEALAND PROBABLY AFFECTED. (Fbom Our Own Corbesfondbot.) AUCKLAND, February 4. Mr Clement Wragge has issued the following forecast: " Atmospheric conditions are very perturbed within tlie lower latitudes, especially over all that region be- : tween whangarei and North Cape, the ■ Kermadecs, Tonga, Fiji, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, and the coasts of Queensland and New South Wales. Close watch should be kept on tlie barometer, and if ; it falls half a tenth in half an hour rough weather may be expected. The disastrous '< storms in Queensland, coupled with floods, are sufficient indication of the general type of weather, and in various parts of the eastern half of Australia there probably; : will be a renewal of such before April I.' .; Hence every precaution should be taken. • As stated in January, the coast of Western Australia north from Shark Bay may ba ■ affectcd by winds of the hurricane type. I am confirmed in the opinion that the southern edges of the tropical disturbances will pass further south than usual, and ' their ' penumbrae' may even extend to the Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay under currents from between south-east, east, north-east, and north, shifting blowing strong and with very considerable rainfall before two months have elapsed. These conditions are mainly due, as before stated, to abnormal solar influence."