A HEAVY GALE

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1923, Page 4

A HEAVY GALE

BIG SEAS ON COAST. TWO I.AUNCHES ASHORE. NO SERIOUS DAMAGE A heavy gale, accompanied by driving rain shou’er's, swept over New Plymouth yesterday. Following a warm day and muggy atmospheric conditions in the evening the wind came from the northeast at aibout eight o’clock on Thursday night. Throughout the night it increased in intensity an-, it gradually veered round to the north. Rain commenced to fall at about four o’clock yesterday morning, and became heavier every hour. All day yesterday the countryside was drenched by the driving showers, but at five o’clock the wind died down and there was a welcome break in the clouds. The storm was accompanied by a phenomenally high -tide at one o’clock yesterday, a most unusual occurrence when the tides are past springs and nearing neaps. A very heavy sea was running all day, but no damage was done to the harbour works in progress. At low tide there was a continuous line of breakers along the 'breakwater extension foundation, indicating that thia work is already having good effect in adding to the ‘’heltered water area. Two launches are reported to have broken away from their moorings, but they were saved without suffering asy material damage. The Rarawa was running before the gale on her trip to New Plymouth from Onehunga on Thursday night and arrived at her usual hour. On the return run last night, however, she would be head on to the seas. The wind and rain did considerable damage to the gardens in New Plymoytu yesterday, but nothing of a serfr ous nature was reported.

LAST NIGHT’S FORECAST. WEATHER NOT SETTLED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The following Government weather foreeaet was issued at 4 p.m. to-day: “Present indications are for westerly winds strong to gale, backing to southerlies. Weather unsettled and boisterous, with rain proTyable generally, and heavy* rain in many parts. The 'barometer is rising everywhere shortly.”