GALES IN THE NORTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 53

GALES IN THE NORTH.

SIX VESSELS DELAYED. AUCKLAND, May 17. A severe easterly gale, accompanied by very rough seas, was blowing on the east coast yesterday. The Karori, bound from Westport to Auckland, reported that she was steaming against the gale between Cape Maria and Cape Brett, and making very little headway. The vessel is bringing bunker coal for H.M.A.S. Adelaide, it is doubtful if the warship will be able to leave Auckland with the fleet. The Dorset, en route from Liverpool with 289 third class passengers, is expected on Monday. She wirelessed: “Hope to arrive Tuesday; weather very bad.” The City of Adelaide, from New York, sent a wireless “Delayed by storm; hope to reach Auckland Tuesday morning.” The Wairuna, on her way from San hVancisco, was due at Wellington on Wednesday. She will now have to call at Auckland to replenish her bunkers, and is expected to-morrow. There was a very heavy easterly gale all last night, with a remarkable fall in the barometer, which registered SOdeg on Thursday night. At midnight yesterday it read*29.3s, at 2 a.m. to-day 29.25, and at 9 this morning 29.2. There are no reports of serious damage, but vessels approaching port advise by wireless that they are delayed by storms. FLOODS AT THE THAMES. THAMES, May 1/. A heavy easterly gale was experienced during the night, causing the Kaueranga River to rise rapidly, and it overflowed the residential area. At Parawai the flood brought down a lot of kauri logs, and either these or a metal punt which broke loose, fouled the main traffic bridge and carried the middle span away. The punt then fouled the new bridge in course of erection, breaking it in halves, one half of which is jammed against the railway bridge, which is now threatened by the high water. No trains arrived or departed. The racecourse is a sea of water. Two valuable punts and fishing launches were swept to sea and sunk. Old residents state it is the biggest flood in tlve history of the river. Thames is isolated from this district southward.