EASTERLY GALE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 110, 15 January 1940, Page 5

EASTERLY GALE

WEEK-END STORM

NO SERIOUS DAMAGE REPORTED MANY CAMPERS FLOODED OUT Town and district received their full share of the easterly gale and storm which swept over the whole of the province during the week-end. The wind which had been blowing strongly during Saturday morning and afternoon whipped up a heavy sea, and late in the afternoon when driving rain began to fall the storm reached its maximum force. Through out Saturday night the storm raged without intermission the howling wind ripping through the countryside and doing untold damage to orchards, crops and gardens. On the other hand however the district came off fairly well as far as any serious loss of property is concerned. There were numerous instances of Hooding*, and of small buildings being blown over, but as vet there have been no cases of any definite losses. Campers Inconvenienced. Hundreds of campers spent a miserable night at Ohopc Beach. There were cases of tents being blown over, others being completely lifted from the ground leaving the occupants exposed to the elements. On the camping ground itself however there was surprisingly little damage, the low sandbank facing the beach acting as a natural barrier which broke the force of the gale. One man continued to sleep under his collapsed tent until uncovered by a kindly rescue party in the earlv hours of the morning. There were numerous instances oi others having to rely upon the kindliness of neighbours for shelter. x\ccording to eld residents it is some time since the sea was whippet! up so quickly. A comparatively pormnl sea in the evening, by morning it was running a record height. The waves thundered against the banks all away along the beach and in al least two instances two outhouses were washed away. Both creeks across the roadway were Hooded and motorists had to watch their chan-

ces in making a crossing. Scene at the Heads. In Whakatane itself householders report that orchards are almost stripped of fruit. In Kopcopeo several residents state that the wind was the strongest they have ever experienced. The same tale of minor damage is forthcoming, but again fortunately little of any consequence. The road to the Heads was flooded in the early morning, and the surface covered a" foot deep with kelp. This was removed by workmen later in the day, and a procession of cars brought sightseers to watch the magnificent display by the tremendous seas. The breakers presented a wonderful sight, and when the storm was at its height actually swept clean over the sandspit at the entrance. Residents at the Heads declare that it is many years since such seas have been seen.

In the County. Trees, shelter belts, hedges and gardens suffered in the county, Avhile there have been several reports of slips on the roads. The high wind stripped numerous haystacks, and in some instances demolished them altogether. Travellers through to Rotorua state that the storm Avas general and that that town suffered as much as any on the"coast. Similar reports haA'e been receiA T ed from Opotiki. A fairly large slip came down on the Lake Road near Rotoma, and on Sunday held up a line of ears. It Avas cleared Avithin an hour. Trees failing across the road also presented some difficulty till cleared Telephone and PoAver Services. Both telephone and poAvcr services Avere interrupted on Sunday morning, but the latter was restored to jiractical normality by the evening. Trees falling through the Avires dislocated the telephone services hoAvever and many lines are stil! out of order. The P. and T. Department is Avorking on the restoration and anticipates that all Avill be restored within a short period.