HOLIDAY SPOILED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20130, 27 December 1939, Page 11

HOLIDAY SPOILED

TOLL OF THE STORM UNUSUAL THUNDER ROLL SCURRY FOR SHELTER Hundreds of holiday-makers on the beaches and at country resorts to‘-day found their celebration of Boxing Day spoiled by a terrific thunderstorm of tropical intensity, which swept a large portion of the Poverty Bay flats as well as the town of Gisborne and its environs. So far as could be ascertained this afternoon, no material damage was done, but the copious fall of rain and hail was expected to cause minor wash-outs on the clay roads of the back country. None of the main highways was affected, however, and the fall was not experienced more than a few miles northward of Gisborne. At 2 p.m. the sun was shining again, and the storm was moving off in a southwesterly direction, though there was a threat of renewed rain. Many people caught in the storm had to made the best of their way home in soaking' garments. Hundreds at the Waikanae Beacn crowded into shelters normally accommodating only scores, and there was a general rush for cover. Most of the picnic spots were deserted later in the day, for the storm had thoroughly damped the ground and had filled every creek with muddy water, spoiling the amenities which in the past few weeks have been enjoyed almost uninterruptedly by tourists as well as by district residents. The downpour was heralded in Gisborne by the most remarkable roll of thunder heard here for many years, the crashes and reverberations continuing for about 15 minutes without interruption. Inquiries made by the resident A.A. Patrol indicated that the rain was not experienced far north of Gisborne on the Coast road, and that traffic northward round the Cape was proceding normally this afternoon. Half-Inch Hail Stones The hail, which fortunately fell for only a brief period, was fairly general over the Gisborne flat country, and for a time caused orchardists some concern, especially when they saw the size of some of the stones, which measured up to half an inch in diameter. One of the leading orchardists, however, reported that after a brief inspection of his crop he could see no sign of damage at present, although he feared that some slight traces might show up later. . He was agreeably surprised that no marks were showing on the young fruit, but accounted for this by the fact that it was not a driving hail. The rainfall registered at the signal station was ,28in., but it is obvious that in 'other parts of the town the fall was heavier, though no record is available for any point at which the storm struck with its heaviest downpour.