THE RECENT GALES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11525, 15 May 1899, Page 2

THE RECENT GALES.

HUGHSON'S BODY RECOVERED.

DISLOCATION OF SHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS.

A MAN DROWNED Af TIMARU. [raft press association.] Wellington, May 13 —Rarely has Wel« liogton experienced weather similar to that which has prevailed since Thursday night. The velocity of tho wiad for tho 24 hours ended at 9 o'jlock thia morning was 510 miles, which was for the most part registered during the night. Nearly an inch of rain fell. Dutiag the night the body of the unfortunate seaman Hughson, lost from the Takapuna at the Heads, was washed ashore at Tarakihi Bay. At the inquest on the body of Andrew Hughson, lost cfi the Takapuna yesterday, the evidence showed that the unfortunate man must have g^>ne straight overboard. Mr Williams, the chief officer, had an exceedingly narrow escape, being nearly through the railings, and being in an unconscious condition when rescued by Mr ChBS. Jicoba (chief steward) and McGrath (lamp tiimmer). When Hughson's body was washe i ashora it was devoid of the heavy sea boots which he tad on at the time of the accident, and this appear? to suggest that the man must have made a desperate attempt to reach the shore. The verdict was that deceased was washed overboarJ, death being the result of misadventure, and not otherwise. Mr Williams is progressing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. DeEpite the severity of the gale no damage has been reported in town beyond the smashing of a few windows Wellington, May 14.— The southerly gala which began on Thursday at midday hts continued viith unabated fury, b-it this afternoon Bhowi signs o c falling off. The wea:her has been bitterly cold, and rain haa fallen almo3t wi'-lout inters mission until noon to day. The shipping in Wellington was 'etiously interfered with, and there has been no departure since Friday afternoon. The Wakanui arrived from South yestirday evening, but made several ineffectual efforts to go to sea before reaching the Hca3e, and then it was j decided to come on, and she is at anchor well down the harbour. The Ribstou, which attempted to leave for Auckland on Thursday, but refurned, is still at anchor neir Somes' Is'and. '! he sou h^rn trip of the Rolomahaua was abandoned, and she will not now leive for Lyttelton until ' to-morrow evening. The Rotoiti should have left yesterday afternoon for New Plymouth Bnd One. hucga, taking the Wellington, Southern, Kelson, and West Coast portion of the outward 'Frisco mail. The mountainous sea running at the Heads prevented her leaving port. The Rotorua, which came in yesterday from Nelson, had a rough passage across, and used her oil bags wish good effect. The Rotorua brought some of the Nelson 'Frisco mail bags. " The Heupiri, from Nelson and West Coast, which had the rest of the coastal 'Frisco nuil on board, had been sheltering under Long Island, and yesterday started to come across, but on nearing Wellington Heads was unable to pickup the entrance, and was headed for the south. She was in company with the Brunner and Mawhera, and both the latter followed her example. This morning, on the weather clearing somewhat, the Haupiri's head was turned for "Wellington, and she reached port safely shortly before two this afternoon. She, too, used her oil bass with satisfactory results, but did not escape scathless, a portion of her railing being carried away on either side. The captiiu reports that the sja in Cook Straits . was the worst ha had known dtiring fifteen years' experience on the coast. Tht) Mawhora arrived from Wes'port about 445. She had a lively experience in the Straits, and took in a large quantity of watef. bat only very slight damage was done to her bulwarks. The Rotoiti will endeavour to get out at 5 o'clock to morrow morning. The Mokoia's departure for Sydney WS3 delayed. Sue may make nn attempt to getaway to»morro'Y morning. As the Rotoiti was noable to leave with the southern portion of the outward 'Frisco mail, the Postal Department arranged for a special train to convey the mails to New Plymouth, and this left at noon to-day, and will catch the Gairloch at New Plymouth. A portion- of the Nelson mail and the whole of tfre West Coast of the South Inland, which missed the traiu, will be sent via Briadisi. TimahU, May 14. — An immensa southerly sea spraug up on Saturday afternoon, aud caused a fatality. At 5.30 a block shifted on the yampet of Hl9 breakwater, aud several men employed on tho works went to the. en 3 of the wharf to see it. B. Cittlow, a man in the prime of life, was a few. yards ahead of. the others, and was standing by the rail at the end of tho wharf when a sea broke over tha breakwater, and carried him into the harbour.- A boat was got out in a few minutes, but failed ro recover Cat.tlow, who was Etjen once only. DcceiseJ was a married man, with four children, and a valued workman. The body hid not, at 5 p.m to day, been r.-covfrocf. Tho sei is stili running hoavily. Welling ton, May 15.— The wiud Iras now dropped, but heavy rain haa followed, and the weather is thicker than ever. Tho rain fell so far is 523 inches; the average for the whole mouth hist year was 3-89 inches.