BOISTEROUS WEATHER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2160, 8 April 1908, Page 2

BOISTEROUS WEATHER.

STORMY AND COLD. HIGH SEAS. STEAMER PASSENGERS PROBABLY CARRIED ON. Tho rain which set in on Sunday afternoon increased with great severity on Monday, and yesterday developed into a bleak wintry gale, and up to tho timo of going to press this morning shows no signs of diminishing in force. Tho downpour ou Monday was exceptionally heavy, tho waterchannels in places being unable to cope with tho flood, tho roads ankle deep in mud, and ill places flooded. Tlio wind howled and whistled through the streets, and almost carried people off their feet. Yesterday the i ain poured down in torrents, the wind got colder, and seemed liko a Hast from tho Antarctic. In the more exposed places, such as tho AA’aimata A’alley, it blew with terrific force, and cut liko a kuifo. Tho AA’aimata and Taruheru rivers at high tide wore rough. Tho water at tlio breakwater was very active, and danced against the wharves and vessels with great force. Outside, high seas were running, and wero unsafe for shipBing. . If tho storm continues with the same severity as yesterday, there is very little probability that any .attempt will bo mado to land passengers from Napier by tho Monowai, and from Auckland by the AVimmera, and they will probably bo carried on. Should tho weather moderate, an attempt will bo mado to get the passengers off; but, on tho other hand, should tho weather get more wintry, there is still less likelihood that any attempt to land passengers will bo mado.

Reports from country districts state that nearly all the creeks and livers are in flood, and it is feared that continued rain might bring about further damage to the water pipes and water works in tho To Arni creek. Country mail services lnivo been interfered with in many places. Tho chief postmaster at Gisborne has been advised that the Alotu and Ivanakania mails havo been detained at Te Karaka in consequence of the flood, also that the mail-carrier was unablo to got through from Port Awanui to AA’aipiro yesterday, in consequenco of the flooded state of tho creeks. Stock has suffered to no small extent, and many farmers havo lost numbers of sheep and cattle.

The Tuatoa was under charter to go to Oroka, to allow tho Mormon picnic party to return, but owing to the gale was unablo to venture out. Tho trip will probably be mado on Thursday.