HAIL STORM AT HASTINGS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 102, 13 February 1950, Page 6

HAIL STORM AT HASTINGS

FRUIT CROPS BADLY DAMAGED ' LOSS MAY EXCEED 100,000 BUSHEL CASES * (P.A.) . HASTINGS, Feb. 12. Hailstones did heavy damage to orchards, mainly in the Twyford area, on Saturday afternoon. Losses are expected to total 100,000 bushel cases of pip and stone fruit and may go even ’ as high as 150,000 .t0'200,000 bushels. Growers lost from 25 to 80 per cent, of their crops, depending how near they were to the storm centre.

The fall of hail lasted from 15 to 20 minutes, beginning about 2.30 p.m., and was accompanied by thunder, lightning, rain and wind. The stones varied in size from mothballs to large w'alnuts, with an occasional one as big as a pigeon’s egg. Most were of a jagged and irregular formation, and were composed of several pieces of ice frozen into one. mass. There were instances of birds being killed by the stones.

The storm was felt over a strip about five miles wide, with the heaviest density over two to three miles. It travelled in the form of a letter S through Fernhill, Twyford, Frimley, and Karamu, with Twyford receiving the maximum force. Twyford escaped hail and frost which did damage to orchards earlier in the season, and the crop there was expected to be a record for the district. The fruit was almost' ready for harvesting, but yesterday the orchards Were carpeted with badly bruised and cut apples, pears, peaches, and plums and leaves and small branches. Much of the peach crop remaining on the trees has been damaged and brown rot is expected to develop quickly and make it unmarketable, The jagged stones have cut the bark of many trees, and W'ith fruit spurs also damaged, next year’s crops is expected to suffer. The growers who' have been heavy losers number between 40 and 50. Glasshouses received some damage, one building having 150 panes broken. Outdoor market gardens also suffered severely, some large areas of tomatoes almost ready Tor the market being badly, pulped.'