A BIG BLOW

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 34, 4 November 1919, Page 6

A BIG BLOW

i A DOUBLE-CENTERED STORM MAXIMUM VELOCITY OF 68 MILES AN HOUR October was a boisterous month, even for Wellington, but November has evidently made up its mind not to bo "left at the post" as regards wind. Sunday witnessed one of the biggest blows experienced in the city for a considerable time, and many who spent a sleepless night as a result of the. clamour of the storm will have reason to remember Sunday night's cyclonic blow for quite a long time. The Meteorological Office reports that the gale blew its hardest between I p.m. on Sunday and 12.30 a.m. yesterday. Tho maximum gust hurtled over the city at 12.10 a.m. yesterday (just after midnight), its velocity being at the rate of G8 miles per hour (a pressure of Ulb. to the square foot). The gale was severe in the Cook Strait area, as far north as a line drawn between New Plymouth on tho West Coast and Casllepoint on the east. The disturbance was u westerly storm area with a double centre. The one centre pnssed over the south of the South Island early on Saturday morning, and the other vented itself over the Wellington district and Cook Strait. It passed to the south of the Chatham Islands yesterday morning. Strong southerly winds were renorted from most parts of the South Island yesterday. Considering the force of the gale, very little serious damage was reported »* having been done in Wellington. A big advertising hoarding was levelled to llm ground in Lower Majorihnnks Street. It fell with a crash across the footpath, but fortunatelv it fell during Uie night when no one was about. Several fences were blown down in tho suburbs, and thero were a few windows blown in. The cardens were given a very rough handling indeed, and the promise of spring in instances has beon sadly blighted by the trouncing given tho trees and plants by tho gale. , GALE IN SOuTIii~HAWKE'S BAY LOG FIRES CAUSE ALARM. . ' By Telegr."i)h-Press Association. DannevirkS), November 3. A. tremendous westerly gale, the worst experienced for many years past, raged throughout southern Hawke's Bay on Sunday night. Isolated log fires we.ro fanned into activity, and despite the greenness,of the countryside spread with alarming' rapidity. Dannevirke township was the central setting of a ring of tires. At Terehunga, Rua Eoa, Umutaooa, Mataniau, Piri Piri. and Tiratu tho settlers were up all night protecting their homesteads and the stock. In some cases outsheds were destroyed, Juit ho far there have been no losses of 'homesteads. It is reported Unit a bridge at Ma toman, on the main road to Napier, was ! destroyed. Rain ■ towards morning had a subdii. ' ing effect on tho wind and flames, but ■ a heavy wind is still blowing. , Tho galo at Matainau was tho worst remembered. EXTENSIVE FIRES IN POVERTY BAY. Gisborne, November 3. A telegram from Euatorea, Waiapu County, this afternoon states that a north-west wind is blowing with hurricane force, ana' tho whole country in tho Taimwncroa Valley from Pakihiroa lo Waironeomai is ablaze. Owing to the dense smoke the damage is not ascertainable. A bush whare has been burned, 'and it is feared that one settler's residence has been endangered. A halfcaste is reported missing. DAMAGE IN THE WAIRARAPA. By Telegraph—Press Association. Greytown, November 3. The fiercest gale for many years visit. Ed Wairarapa. last night. Fences aro reported down, and a few buildings wo.ro damaged. Nothing serious so far has been reported. In orchards young stone fruit. suffered severely; HEAVY SNOWFALUN CANTERBURY SERIOUS LOSSES OP SHEEP FEARED Christcliurch, November 3. Snow fell last night over most of tho Mull country in Canterbury and on some of the lower levels. The consequences, more especially where sheop have just been shorn, are likely to be serious. In several areas the fall of snow is tho heaviest recorded for November over a period of thirty years. From the ngricurnl viewpoint the crops and grasses', will benefit exceedingly by the rain which has fallen over areas not visitco! bv the snow. Timaru, November 3. A phenomenally late snowstorm occurred last evening and night. In Timaru a coimlo of inches were lying last night, but disappeared .by the morning. Tho depth gradually increased inland to four inches at Cave, and twelve inches at Fairlie. -.There was a thick coating on the hills and mountains. The 6now 'hawii rapidly on the low downs, but the hills are white still. In Timaru 1 there has been almost two inches of rain in Iwcntv-four hours. A loss among shorn sheep and later (hill) lambs is anticipated. REPATRIATION « EIGHT MONTHS' FIGURES. A progress return issued by tho Repatriation Department for the period of eight months ' up to October- 20, 1919, states that tho Department's register comprises'tho names of 74,118 men, of which i number +7,153 havo returned to tho Dominion since tho beginning <f the year. Demobilisation cards are distributed as follow: Auckland, 15,679; Wellington, 19,636; Canterbury, 9305; Otago, 6GO(i; head office, 20,829; total, 74,118. Notwithstanding the large number of men boing discharged daily, the employ, ment. figures disclose an excellent position. During the month 1141 men wero placed in situations, and it is pleasing to note that the number remaining on tho employment wanted register for tho whole of tho Dominion at the date of this report is the lowest on record, viz., 30"--alwut a week's "placings." During the month 1G men were granted unemployment sustenance allowances for a 'week or more, and 12 wero actually in iccoipt of same at the dale of tho reThe vocational training figures show a further increase, no loss than 100 men having .■ommenced training in new trades or occupations during the month. Tho totsil number for whom training has been arranged to date is 2Glif. Of this number 42S have finished their course, leaving a balance of 2236 still being tiained in the various technical schools or special soldier classes, and in tho workshops and factories of private employers throughout the Dominion. During the eight months 1890 loans for thei pui'|»se of establishing discharged soldiers in business (involving an expenditure of .£+27,821) have been approved by the Ministerial board, and during tho 'nionth under review .£113,703 was pjid out; on bohulf of soldiers for furniture, tools, business, sustenance, training, fees, subsidised wages, assistance to apprentices, etc. The total amount expended to date under these headings is .£501,21"). During the month J5079 was repaid by instalments, making a total of !£13,521 received to date in reduction of loans granted.