THE WEATHER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9810, 31 March 1910, Page 1

THE WEATHER.

HEAVY GALE IN THE NORTH. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. [Pee, Pkess Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, March 30. A storm burst over Taranaki early this morning with cyclonic fury, destruction in all directions marking its visit. Very little rain has fallen, but the hurricane-like blasts have reached a velocity never hitherto experienced on this coast. At the time of telegraphing, S p.m., the gale shows no sign of abatement. Very considerable damage has been done, fences, stables, chimneys, verandahs, trees, etc., being down in all directions. There have been many narrow escapes from flying iron and timber, but no casualties are reported. Large two-storeyed showrooms in Devon Street, just vacated, i collapsed in a mass of ruins. All kinds of reports are current of the overturn- j ing of buildings, coaches and traps in outlying districts, which it is impossible, to verity, but everything points to the damage being considerable. This morning the Taranaki Petroleum Company's No. 4 derrick collapsed. During the afternoon reports reached town that No. 3 derrick also was a victim to the cyclone's fury, while the New Zealand Standard Oil Company's Vogeltown derrick also had gone. Falling trees in town disorganised several sections of the telephone wires, while the electric lighting lines were also out of gear in some, localities. There is scarcely a j property not affected to some extent, and the aggregate damage must be fairly considerable. Shinping is not venturing out of port to-night. "" _ GTSBORNE. March 30. Heavy rain has been falling continuously since Monday afternoon, and at present there is ho prospect of cessation. It is blowing an easterly gale. j All the rivers are rising rapidly, and . there is every prospect of a disastrous flood similar to that of four years ago. Already dead stock are floating down the rivers, and hundreds of acres are under water. The Monowai is sheltering at To Araroa. The evening train ! is blocked at Ormond, eleven miles out, j by a big_ wash-out on the line. Settlers are having a most anxious time, and are removing stock to higher levels. The coaching service is entirely suspended. NAPIER, March 30. The vatn continues, and the Tutaokuri Piver is in flood. The water is ln'rrii •••> nTI £] lo ptopbank at Meauee, and - tions of the Papakura district are -i ~-;!od. WANG A NUT. March 30. Rain commenced on Tuesday and fell uninterruptedly till this morning. A heavy gale has been experienced all WELLINGTON, March 30. The storm warnings telegraphed out to the far north by the Meteorological Office on Saturday have been amply justified. The north was advised to look out for squalls on Monday, and by nightfall the advance skirmishers of a cyclonic disturbance had smitten Cape Maria. Yesterday the tempest doveloped and the howling winds rushed down the island. On Thursday night Fiji was struck by a hurricane, then the cyclone whirled westward to Norfolk Island, and after a busy time there it veered to the south-east and headed for Three Kings. This morning the centre of the disturbance was to the westward of Cape Maria van Diemen, and the line of march, was towards East Cape. If the storm continues in its present track it will blow down to the Chathams, but other forces may intervene. Already an enemy, an anti-cyclone (generally friendly to man) is working off the West Coast of tho South Island, and the high-pressure movement may tone down and divert the low pressure. At nine o'clock this morning the barometer was down to 29in at Russell, the lowest reading for about three years. The energy of the vigorous gale this morning was chiefly felt northward of East Cape, Taupo and Wanganui, and rain was general in the island. Tiritiri had heavy thunder and lightning. The wind will change by south-east to south and finally to south-west., Wellington's share of tho weather has not been so heavy as the northern districts' portion, but there is yet time for a larger demonstration here. In a few hours the wind here may have more sting. The South Island, too, was mostly under clouds to-day, but down by Invercargill the air was calm. The telegraph office advised to-day that communication with Auckland was totally interrupted and work for north of Hamilton will bear heavy delay. Information received by the Wellington Post Office shows that tho violence of the storm has been well up to the forecast. Communication with Wairangi, on the French Pass line, was also interrupted this morning. A swish of the gale brought down a wiro just when Paeroa was announcing its plight. The message ran:—"The heaviest flood ever known in Paeroa occurred this morning. The streets are submerged three or four feet." BLENHEIM, March 30. A gale of some _ force was experienced in this district to-day and this evening, but the smashing of trees, little damage is reported.