A STORM.

Western Star, 1 April 1910, Page 2

A STORM.

COXSIIWUARLK DAMAOK KEPOKTKJ). WKLLIXGTOX, March ;fd. Storm warnings telegraphed out by the meteorological office on Sat nr,lav- 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 developed. and the howling winds rushed down the island. On Thursday night Fiji was struck by a hurricane. Then the cyclone whirled westward to Xorfolk island, and after a busy tim<- 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, and the line of march was towards East Cape. If the storm continues in Us present track it will blow down to tlie Chathams: hut oilier forces may intervene. Already an enemy, an anti-cyclone (generally friendly to than) is working off the west coast of tho South Island, ami the high pressure movement may tone down and divert tho low pressure. At !) o'clock this morning the barometer was down to 211 indies at Russell, tire lowest reading for about three years. The energy of the vigorous gale this morning was chielly felt northward of East Capo, Taupo iiiul 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 the 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 the violence of tho storm hats been well up to the forecast. Communication with Wairangi, on the French Pass line, was also interrupted this morning. A swish of the galo brought down a. wire just when Paeroa was announcing its plight. The message ran - “The heaviest flood ever known m Paeroa occurred this morning. Tho streets are submerged three or four feet.” CONDITIONS BOUND QISBOBNE.

GISBORNE, March 29. Heavy rain has been falling continuously since Monday afternoon. At present" there is no prospect of cessation. There is an easterly gale and all the rivers are rising rapidly so that there Is every prospect of a disastrous flood similar to that of four years ago. Already dead stock are coming down the rivers. Hundreds of acres of land are under water. The Monowai is sheltering at Teara-^ The evening train was at Ormond, eleven miles out, by a out on 11)e line. Settlers arc having a most anxious time, and are removing stock to higher levels. The coaching service has been entirely suspended. HURRICANE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. MUCH DAMAGE DONE. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 30. Mr Bates' storm burst over Taranaki early this morning with cyclonic fury, destruction in all directions marking Its path. Very little rain has fallen, but the hurricane-like blasts have reached a velocity never hitherto experienced on this coast. At the time of wiring (8 p.m.) the gale shows not a sign of abatement Very considerable damage lias been done, fences, stables, chimneys, verandahs, trees, etc., have been down in all directions. Tliere have been many narrow escapes from flying iron, and timber, but no casualty lias been reported. Large two-storied show rooms in Devon street, just vacated, collapsed in a mass of ruins.

All kinds of reports are current as to the overturning of buildings, coaches and traps in outlying districts, but these stories it is impossible to verify. Everything, however, points to damage being considerable. This morning the Taranaki Petroleum Co.’s No. i derrick collapsed. During the afternoon reports reached town that No. 3 was aiso a victim to the cyclone’s fury, while the New Zealand Standard Oil Co.’s Vogel town derrick lias gone/ Falling trees in town disorganised several sections of telephone wires, and the electric lighting is also out of gear. In some localities there is scarcely a property that lias not been affected to some extent, and the aggregate damage must be fairly considerable. Shipping is not venturing out of port to-nlglit.

the storm elsewhere. ] WANGANUI, Mar. 30. Rain commenced on Tuesday and fell 5 uninterruptedly till this morning. A . heavy gale has been experienced all day and the thermometer is low. ’ NAPIER, Mar. 30. A storm of exceptional severity la raging over the district. The rainfall during the past three days totals nearly live inches. Rivers are in heavy flood, : but no serious damage has been re- t ported. AUCKLAND, Mar. 30. The Ohinemuri river flooded its banks • at 7.30 this morning, and streets in the township were flooded to a depth of ’ throe feet in places. Water is running - down the main street at a great rate, the lower parts of the town being rapidly submerged. Most of the shops in the main street are flooded. Houses in the ! country are more or less flooded. So • far no more serious damage is reported, but the flood is bound to do a good deal of damage. . 1 MR BATES’ PREDICTION. M. WELLINGTON, March 30. . Following is Mr Bates’ summary and forecast:—“A cyclone of exceptional in--1 tensity, and witli very low pressure in the far north has caused a considerable disturbance over the North Island. Heavy easterly gales and rain, with floods have occurred in various parts. Present, indications are for a heavy S.E. gale with heavy rain on the East Coast, especially between East Cape and Banks Peninsula. A southerly gale, with rain and colder weather, is probable soon elsewhere. The centre of the cyclone will probably pass East Cape in the morning. THE ISLAND SALE. REPORTS EXAGGERATED. SYDNEY. Mar. 30. . Private cables from Fiji show fears as to Hie extent of the damagjSp by the hurricane are unfounded. damage is chiefly confined to Suva the vicinity of Levuka. Ba and LauTolsfa. ITavuini escaped damage, but it will be a few days before the effect, if any, on the outlying Islands, will be known. A hurricane raged at Noumea on Sunday, causing great damage. Houses were unroofed, the telegraph lines blown down, and roads were washed away by high seas. The German gunboat Cormorant lost several boats in the gale. SYDNEY. Mar. 30. Received 31. 1.40 a.m. The secretary of the Methodist Mission has received a eahie from Suva announcing that great damage has been done to the mission building. There have been a number of casualties, but no deaths. The damage, so far as Is known, is estimated at £3OOO.