The Gale

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 6, 26 June 1886, Page 2

The Gale

Th« gale on Thursday night was the heaviest experienced here for some time. In many houses pa •< »f glass were broken by the force of the wind, the shops and offices in Fergusson street being the principal sufferers. A number of trees were blown down in the Borough, while many monarchs of the forest hare been laid prostrate, in several instances over the roads to the interruption of traffic. Some bee hives belonging to Mr Brandt in Orey street were turned over, so that their inhabitants, with their store of honey, were completely destroyed. A truck lying in the yard at the railway station was started, and received sufficient impetus to jump the points, which were, of course, locked. Getting on to the main line it continued its way uninterrupted until it reached Bunnythorpe, a distance of six miles level running, where it was brought up in a shady place. Fortunately, the obstruction was removed before the train went to Foxton in the early morning, and the consequences of a collisiou avoided. In this connection we regret t» learn that the railway porter, Mr Towler, has been suspended, pending an inquiry as to how the truck was so left tl.at it was blown on to the main Hue. lv one respect this mishap was a blessing, because if Towler had not proceeded down the Hi c to oto take the runaway he would i o have discovered and assisted to remove a quantity of timber that had been blown on the metals at Taonui. No damage to propexty of any serious character has been reported. Several fences have been levelled with the ground, and a few doors smashed which had been carelessly left unfastened, but nothing has been injured that a few pounds will not restore to its original condition.