A SPELL OF BAD WEATHER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2719, 25 April 1906, Page 58

A SPELL OF BAD WEATHER.

£Fxou Otte Own CoekespokdeKTfO WELLINGTON, April 22. We have had a boisterous southerly gale, with a low temperature and showers of rain. Tho harbour this (Sunday) morning was a sheet of foam, and the waves were dashing up over the Hutt railway to such an extent that the trains were delayed. They had to crawl, along past the worst places. Considerable damage to gardens has been done. The Pateena and the Talune came up from Lyttelton with the wind and sea behind them in good time, but the Rotomahana, southward, made very slow progress against the gale and the big seas that wero running outside the Heads. The Talune passed her at 9 a.m., and it then -seemed as if she would not get to Lyttelton until a very late hour. As the Pateena was entering the Heads a vessel, apparently a schooner, was seen floating ups'^o down. She probably was wrecked in the night, and it is feared all hands will have perished, as a boat could scarcely have lived outside the Heads last night.

WELLINGTON, April 22. The coal hulk Enterprise foundered this morning alongside the wool wharf, apparently owing to the heavy jobble. She was recently purchased by the State Coal Department, and has^about 120 tope of coal aboard. The cargo and hulk are insured. GISBORNE, April 22. A gale caused a portion of the balcony verandah of the Albion Hotel to collapse. CHRISTCHURCH, April 21. After 20 days of fine weather, during which rain fell only one hour, rain began last night, and fell heavily " for several hours, easing off at about 10 o'clock to-day. Most of the low-lying streets are in flood owing to the autumn leaves choking the culverts. The obstructions were soon removed. The Bealej River is a foot above ite normal height, and rain ie still falling there. GORE, April 21. The heavy rain for the past 7K hours caused floods in all the district streams. The bulk of the oat crop is still out, some uncut. The outlook for farmers is most gloomy, and completion of the harvest is postponed indefinitely. m INVEROARGILL. April 21. The Aparima and Otautau Rivers are in flood, and there is 2ft of water iai the main street. The Otautau line is washed away, and the train was unable to get through this morning. • i

The farmers" In trie low-lying country are likely to be seriously affected. Rain fell continuously for 24 hours, but it has now ceased.