A STORM.

Southland Times, Issue 14380, 31 March 1910, Page 5

A STORM.

BUSY ABOUT NEW ZEALAND. CONSIDEBABLE DAMAGE BEPOSTED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 30. Storm warnings telegraphed out by the meteorological, office on Saturday have ' been amply justified. The north was advised to look out for squalls on Monday, and by nightfall the advance skirmishers of a cyclonic disturbance had smitten Cape Maria. Yesterday the tempest developed, and the howling winds rushed down the island. On Thursday night Fiji was struck by a hurricane. Then the cyclone whirled westward to Norfolk Island, and after a busy time there it Veered to the south-east and headed for Three Kings. This morning |he centre of the disturbance was to the westward of Cape Maria, and the line of march was, towards, Cape. If the storm continues in its present track it will blow down to the Chathams; but other forces may intervene. Already an enemy, an anti-cyclone '(generally friendly to man) is working off the west coast of the South Island, and the high pressure movement may tone down and divert the low pressure. At 9 o’clock this morning the barometer was down to 29 inches at Russell, the lowest reading for about three years. The energy of the vigorous gale this morning was chiefly felt northward of East Cape, Taupo and Wanganui and rain was general in the Island. Tiritiri had heavy thunder and lightning. The wind will change by south-east to south and finally to, south-west. Wellington’s share of the weather has not been so heavy as the northern districts’ portion: but there is yet time for a larger demonstration here. In a few hours the wind here may have more sting. The South Island, too, was mostly under clouds to-day ; but dotvn by Invercargill the air was calm. The Telegraph Office advised to-day that communication with Auckland was totally interrupted, and work for north of Hamilton will bear heavy delay. Information received by the Wellington post office shows that the violence of the storm has been well up to the forecast. Communication with Wairangi, on the French Pass line, was also Interrupted this morning. A swish of the gale brought down a wire just when Paeroa was announcing its plight. The message ran: “The heaviest flood ever known in Paeroa occurred this morning. The streets are submerged three or four feet.’’ ■ ■ CONDITIONS BOUND GISBOBNE. .GISBORNE, March 29. ■ Heavy rain has been falling continuously since Monday afternoon. At present there is no prospect of cessation. There is an easterly gale and all the rivers are rising rapidly so that there is every prospect of a disastrous flood similar to that of four years ago. Already dead stock are coming down the rivers. Hundreds of acres of land are under The Monowai Is sheltering at Teararoa. ’ , , . The evening train was blocked at Ormond, eleven miles out, by a big washout on the line. Settlers are having a most anxious time, and are removing stock to higher levels. The coaching service has b,een entirely suspended. HUBBICANE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 30. Mr Bates’ storm burst over Taranaki early this morning with cyclonic fury, destruction >ln all directions marking its path. Very little rain has fallen, but the Iturrlcane-like blasts have reached a velocity never hitherto experienced on this coast. At the time of wiring (8 p.m.) the gale shows not a sign of abatement. Very considerable damage has been done, fences, stables, chimneys, .verandahs, trees, etc v have been down in all directions. There have been many narrow escapes from, flying Iron and timber, but no casualty has been reported. Large two-storied show rooms in Devdn street, just vacated, collapsed in a mass of ruins.

■ All kinds of reports are current as to the overturning of buildings, coaches and traps in outlying districts, but these stories it is Impossible to verify. Everything, however, points to damage being considerable.

This morning the Taranaki Petroleum Co.’s No. 4 derrick collapsed. During the afternoon reports reached town that No. 3 was also a victim to tire cyclone’s fury, while the New Zealand Standard Oil Co.’s Vogeltown derrick has gone. Falling trees in town disorganised several sections of telephone wires, and the electric lighting is also out of gear. In some localities there is scarcely a property that has not been affected to some extent, arid the aggregate damage must be fairly considerable. Shipping is not venturing out of port to-night. THE STORM ELSEWHERE. WANGANUI, Mar. 30. Rain commenced on Tuesday and fell uninterruptedly till this morning. A heavy gale has been experienced all day and the thermometer is low. NAPIER, Mar. 30. A storm of exceptional severity is raging over the district. The rainfall during the past three days totals nearly five inches. Rivers are in heavy flood, but no serious damage has been reported. AUCKLAND, Mar. 30. The Ohinemurl river flooded its banks at 7.30 this morning, and streets in the township were flooded to a depth of three feet in places. Water Is running down the main street at a great rate, the lower parts of the town being rapidly submerged. Most of the shops in the main street are flooded. Houses in the country are more or less flooded. So far no more serious damage is reported, but the flood is bound to do a good deal of damage. MR BATES’ PREDICTION: WELLINGTON, March 30. Following is Mr Bates’ summary and forecast; —“A cyclone of exceptional intensity, and with very low pressure in the far north has caused a considerable disturbance over the North Island. Heavy easterly gales and rain, with floods have occurred in various parts. Present indications are for a heavy S.E. gale with heavy rain on the East Coast, especially between East Cape and Banks Peninsula. A southerly gale, with rain and colder weather, is probable soon elsewhere. The centre of the cyclone will probably pass East Cape in the morning.

TEE ISLAND GALE. REPORTS EXAGGERATED. By Telegraph,—Prec.i Association.—Copyright. SYDNEY, Mar. 30. Private cables from Fiji show that fears as to the extent of the damage by the hurricane are unfounded. The damage is chiefly confined to Suva and the vicinity of Levuka, Ba and Lautoka. Tavuini escaped damage, but it will be a few days before the effect, if any. on the outlying islands, will be known. A hurricane raged at Noumea on Sunday, causing great damage. Houses were unroofed, the telegraph lines blown down, and roads were washed away ,by high seas. The German gunboat Cormorant dost' several boats in the gale. SYDNEY. Mar. 30. Received 31, 1.40 a.m. The secretary of the Methodist Mission lias received a cable from Suva announcing that great damage has been done to the mission building. There have been a number of casualties, but no deaths. The damage, so far as is known, is estimated at. £3OOO.