TIDAL ECCENTRICITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5861, 1 May 1897, Page 7

TIDAL ECCENTRICITY.

The tide at Lyttelton on Thursday afternoon behaved in an apparently eccentric fashion. The almanac gnvo 2.9 p.m. as the time for high water, and just before two o'clock the tide had risen about 4ft sin or 4ft Gin. Then it suddenly fell back again in a most \maccountable manner, leaving " its mark/' as the expression goes, 2ft or 2ft Gin below tho usual level. It was, however, hoped that this unusual occurrence would lead to no serious inconvenience, and the authorities waited till the expected high tide time arrived. But the anticipated rise did not come, and the Harbour-master had no alternative but to inform the agents of the Ruahine of the risk they would run if the steamer attempted to leave the wharf. Then it was that the departure was postponed. Fully an hour afterwards it was seen that the tide was "coining back" at a rapid rate, and even up till four o'clock there was ample water to float the steamer out safely. This fact was put before the ship's representatives, but they decided nob to make the; attempt, as by that time many of tho passengers had gone ashore, and besides, "no one could with the least degree of certainty pretend to know that the tido would remain sufficiently long to successfully float the huge steamer out. Indeed, no one could account for the unusual phenomenon in the least degree. However, tho occurrence did not repeat itself, for yesterday morning, at two o'clock, or half an hour before its due time, the tide was sufficiently high to allow the steamer to proceed without the least hitch, and, by continuing to rise, it restored the aknanac compiler's character for general accuracy