Whirlwind Roars Down On Taranaki Farm

Chronicle (Levin), 21 January 1949, Page 4

Whirlwind Roars Down On Taranaki Farm

Press Association) • /

(Per

jN V v 1 L x iU\/ U J. rt, C\K ; Roaring down from llie north at tho height of a thunder-stovm on Wednesday night, a whirlwind erossed Upper Kahui Iioad, near Rahotu, shortly before 9.30 p.m., * partly unroofrng the house and eowshed of Mr. • Riehard Fleming, tearing away his garage* an'd continuing on through a plantation of pines, snapping off stout trees. No one was injured. A neighbour reports liearing the whirlwind roaring overhead. It picked up a small outhouse, flung it over a sixfoot high hedge and dropped it 30 yards away near the road. It crossed Kahui Road, tilted a power pole and tore off the wires. A's th'e Tights went oiit' Mk'-s. F^eming heard' a ' rdar hnd.'deafening 'clatter and the air in the room revolyed as though itt" a giaht fan. When ' :Mr. ''Fleming retilrne'd lt'6m4 a "5ew minhtes' latef,' he i'h'an'd tlia't the g(lx;age lYad 'disEpp'eaire'd. Th:e Yooff'Wf th'e,'gtar'age Wiis la^er 'fcltind on't'he top o'f 20-foOt liigll lliwfiqniks anii the sides'werh found' 2(J yards awav'on a lawn a'nil again.st 'the house: About 30' sh'eets were ' s'tripped from' the cow she'd ' roof a'nd wh'irled away ii'ke leaves across a plantatlon'/behind the house. As it whirled through the plantation I he wind' ptucked si'x-foot girtlj pine trOes' as'jriough they Were 'ftowers. Tlie txmnkij qt others 'were "cra'elced '. aiid iimby.siiorn off. and tbssed about. * ' 7