A TERRIFIC GALE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 39, 9 November 1918, Page 6

A TERRIFIC GALE

MUCH DAMAGE IN WAIBAEAPi By Telegraph—Special Correspondent.- . ■ Masterton, November 8. A terrific westerly gale raged throughout the Wairarapa on Thursday, doing immense damage- Fences were wrecked in all directions, outhouses destroyed, orchards and gardens" devastated, windows smashed, ciiimneys brought down, and havoc played lor miles around. ' The velocity of the wind was tremendous, and locomotion -vns almost impossible. .Numerous residents -ot' Alastertonwere thrown off their I'ect, and a gig was upset on the road to Cartertou. Several plate-glass windows in Masterton business establishments were blown in

I'ruit and ornamental .trees were seriously damaged, some of the orchards being utterly ruined. Limbs of shrubs and trees were arried in all directions, and the streets were covered in debris. Miles of fencing in town and in the surrounding country were destroyed, and numerous outbuildings were razed to the ground. The Jlasterton Public Park suffered great damage. Pine rre?s were torn up by tho roots, ami many valuable shrubs destroyed. A stone cross' on ihe chancel of St. Ifatthew's Church was carried away.

Over thirty telegraph poles between iMasterlon mid Carterton were ■ snapped off, and the telegraph wires strewn .across the road.

It will be at least two. days before telegraph communication with the south is completely restored. The roof of the W.F.C.A. .granary at Carterton was carried nway, and thrown across the railway line, ji staff of men cleared the line, and thus allowed t'lie train to proceed. , ' ; " :> •■■• Jlauy windows and outbuildings were destroyed at Carterton and Glnreviller Passengers in trains arriving at Slasterton were ivery agitated,- as , the tram rocked ominously.

Several narrow escapes from serious accidents occurred in Masterton, and one or two residents sustained minor injuries from flying debris and. glass. The gale is the most furious that has ever been experienced in the Wairara'pa, and it is difficult to compute the amount

of damage done. ' The wind was still blowing strongly this morniug, but its force had been largely expended.