HEAVY GALE WITH SNOW.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11092, 1 June 1914, Page 5

HEAVY GALE WITH SNOW.

GREAT STORM AT BLUFF. AIL SHIPPING HELD UP. VIVID DISPLAY OF LIGHTNING. (By Tolcgrapiv—Special to " Star.") BLUFF, Juno 1. A heavy northerly gale, culminating in a terrific thunderstorm, has'held up all shipping at this port. Tho gale was so severe on Saturday night and Sunday that the Shaw, Savill liner Kia Cra could not venture from tho wharf, although due to sail on Saturday evening. Tho Union Company's Kaiapoi, sailing very light without cargo, got away for We.stport at li p.m. on Saturday, before tho gale was at its full strength, and Captain Doorly is probably sheltering hi'the Sounds, otherwise the vessel would have a trying time last night.

At anp o'clock a terr,iflc thunderstorm burst with intensely viyid lightning, accompanied by hail the size of peas, and continued with less severity throughout the night and morning, the ground being whito with hail and snow. The Dog Island cable and also tclephoiio to New, River Heads wore fused by lightning, and communication was interrupted.' The s.s. Moerakij due to-day from Hobart, sent a wireless message this morning that she was encountering storms of exceptional severity, and that it was doubted whether she would reach the Bluff to-night. Snow is falling, and tho weather shows no immediate sign of clearing. It is easily the worst storm experienced at the Bluff for years. ■