THE WEATHER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4707, 27 July 1893, Page 1

THE WEATHER.

« [Pan Pbhss Absooiation.] "" "" " ' WELLINGTON, July 26. Captain Edwin predicts very unsettled weather, , with r a prevalence of westerly gales, and rain may be expected iri most parts of.iihe country until July %\. :>i SERIOUS DAMAGE. In consequence of the interruption of the telegraph line the ' operators at Timaru were exceptionally busy for some hours after the arrival of the first train from Christchurch yesterday. The messages for the, south were Haken off at Christfh^^%#ai'de£^^ Tin\«^ station; there -waa i a^dodJ)udjgjß| to be forwarded. The gusty nor'-wester* of Tuesday was felt severely in several parts Canterbury, old sheds, insecure roofs, &c, Suffering*^ — TTga-n-jr rnin fnll ota tho xi>u^i.j, - but not much on the plains, and the rivers were somewhat flooded. yesterday morning, and very thick. Very vivid lightning accompanied some of the rain squalls in the afternoon and evening. At night the wind changed to the south, and yesterday the district was overcast by a dense cloud, from which heavy showers fell. Our South Malvern correspondent writes '.-—Soon after noon on Tuesday we' had areal old-fashioned nor'-wester, and dust flew in clouds until : rain commenced, towards evening. Windows were smashed, many chimneys and outbuildings were blown down, and aeveral trees, besides a : number offences, wsre blown over. On Tuesday, our. Sheffield. correspondent writes, we experienced one of those northwest gales which visit us every year or two. From early morning clouds of sand were seen coming down the Waimakariri before the storm, which reached its height between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., when it was blowing with hurricane force, accompanied with a light rain. It is not to be ex- ' pected that much damage would ensue afc this time of the year. A few trees were blown down, and straw stacks scattered. There, is riot much hay in the district, but what there is got damaged a good. deal. Towards. evening heavy rain fell, and the storm lulled somewhat. A good deal of snow has melted off the front rangeß, but as the weather is still very threatening, we may expect that it will soon be replaced. Our Oxford correßpondent writes.— At midday on Tuesday an ominous combination of clouda and mist appeared on the hills, which were watched by the old identities with Borne anxiety for half an hour. Then came a succession of whirlwinds, which lifted every object (no matter how heavy) which came in reach of their embraces, and after sporting some time j with our fears, settled for a few minutes into a dead calm.. Then came a straight ! northerly buster, such as I never wish. to witness again, being, I am informed, the strongest gale that haa visited Oxford einoe 1860. Be that as it may, the laat gale was the more destructive, because it had more property to act upon, and it has certainly distributed its favours in a most impartial manner, scarcely anyone escaping. I cannot give even an approximate estimate of the damage done in the Oxford township, let alone the whole district, which must be very considerable. All shaky old buildings where whirled away like packs of cards, and all sturdy, well-constructed buildings — sneh as hotels, churches, chapels and the bank — have suffered more or less. Sad havoc was played amongst orchards and gardens ; one gum tree on Mr Ancall's property, fifty feet in height, and having a tremendous root-hold, was hurled down. Sheets of iron, shingles and stray fences were carried through the air like feathers, and the deafening roar of the gale, and the clattering and bumping of the heavy materials will not easily be forgotten. I do not think the farmers on the plains have suffered co much from soil-blowing as on previous occasions, but thoir buildings have been damaged a good deal. Not a single windmill is left standing, so that the water question will be serious to a good many of them till repairs are effected. At the time of writing the gale had calmed down, but the bills still look ominou?. The Raukapuka Bash, writes our Geraldine correspondent, felt tho full force of Tuesday's north-westerly gale, no less than one hundred and thirty fine timber trees being uprooted, tearing up tons of onrth with come of the trees at the came time. Some of tho holes thus made are twenty feet in width. Several trees in the Church of England glebe and other places wero levelled, as also many po3t-and-rail fences. Towards dusk tho gale moderated, when a thuuderstorm passed along the j mountains at the rear of the district, accompanied with heavy showers of rain. Yesterday morning the weather waa lino, though somewhat cloudy, and when our correspondent's despatch left in the afternoon, "there was a slight shov/er of rain • falling. _ j '