LYTTELTON".

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5455, 6 January 1896, Page 4

LYTTELTON".

One of the most severe, north-west gales experienced for many years blew at Lyttelton on Saturday afternoon. A light breeze from that quarter had been blowing throughout the forenoon, but about halfpast two it increased to hurricane force. A sailing race was to have been sailed in the harbour, and the boats were just getting, ready for the start when the gale comjmenced.^ Two of the four contestants— the .'Waterwitch and the Pakeha/ — capsized, and the race was at once postponed. The gale continued to rage with great violence throughout the afternoon, and the Wellington yacht Waitangi was dragging . her moorings very fast. She got close to No. 7 wharf before a line could be got out to one of the large mooring buoys, but, this once accomplished, she was soon hauled out of danger. The yacht Zephyr was out cruising in the harbour, and she was anxiously watched by a large number of people as she stood across the harbour towards the moles. Some of the terrific squalls through which she had to pass sent the waves completely over her, but being splendidly handled by her OAyner, Mr E. J. Scott, she managed to get inside the moles in safety. The ship Soukar, occupying a berth on the breastwork between Nos. 1 and 2 wharves, heeled over and did some damage to her chainplates. One of the coal hulks moored in "Rotten Row," parted her bow moorings and drifted on to the rocks. She was removed without suffering much injury. One of the large iron electric light posts was blown over, the strong anp-le iron of which it is constructed being bent like so much hoop iron. A rowing boat was overturned, and its occupant thrown out,, but he, like the crews of the two yachts, was rescued without injury. Towards sundown the gale moderated, and later in the evening veered into the southrwestj when a welcome shower of rain fell; ...-..■•

On Saturday afternoon the north-west gale blew with considerable violence in the northern district. . Towards evening the wind moderated, and heavy rain fell on the hills. A dense volume of smoke in the direction of Oxford indicated a bush fire, whichno doubt the rain would quench. The weather in the Kaiapoi district on Saturday was of a very rough description, one of the heaviest nor /-westers for some years being experienced. Towards evening heavy rain fell, and may prove disastrous to any crops that had been laid by the wind. ■ Hay crops were blown broadcast, and the fruit trees came in for a fair share of damage. ? ■ . A strong nor .'-wester blew all day on Saturday in South Canterbury. In the afternoon the rain clouds blew over from the ranges, bringing aheavy shower.