THREE DAYS OF RAIN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 127, 30 May 1944, Page 4

THREE DAYS OF RAIN

COASTAL SHIPS DELAYED For three days in succession Wanganui has experienced cold, bleak days with grey skies and almost continuous rain. Two coastal vessels in port yesterday were idle and others en route to Wanganui have been delayed. After a week of fine weather, conditions deteriorated on Saturday, when heavy rain and a strong south-easter-ly wind were experienced in Wanganui and district. Sunday saw no improvement. Though there was less wind heavy rain fell all day. The wind freshened again early yesterday and throughout, the day there was a strong southerly', with rough seas at Castlecliff. Steady rain fell till about four o'clock in the afternoon. At that time the barometer was standing at 29.83in5., and rising slowly. The wet weather over the past three days has resulted in considerable delay to coastal vessels in Wanganui and other ports. The auxiliary motor-vessel Hauturu arrived at the Town Wharf on Saturday morning with sugar and general cargo from Onehunga, via New Plymouth, but was unable to work cargo that. day. The Hauturu was still in port yesterday, when hopes of discharging the vessel were again dispelled by the rain. If the weather improves she will unload to-day, after which she sails for Picton. Also in port yesterday, but unable to work cargo, was the motor-ship Port Waikato. She arrived on Sunday morning with general cargo from Dunedin, Oamaru and Wellington, berthing at Castlecliff. Weather permitting she will begin discharge at. the Heads this morning, coming up to Ihp Town Wharf on this afternoon’s tide. On completion of discharge tomorrow the Port Waikato goes to Tarakohe. Another coastal vessel delayed by rain is the Canterbury Company’s motor-ship Storm, en route to Wanganui with general cargo' from Timaru and Lyttelton, via Wellington. Arrangements were made to work cargo at the lastnamed po-rt on Sunday, but rain necessitated these plans being cancelled. Further rain yesterday again resulted in the Storm being idle and she is not. expected to clear Wellington before to-day.