VIOLENT STORM.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 365, 15 March 1902, Page 3

VIOLENT STORM.

BUILDING OVERTURNED,

By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, last night.

At 8 o’clock last night, Leeston was visited by a terriblo thunderstorm and whirlwind, which did a deal of damage to property, also seriously injuring several people. The thunderstorm was the heaviest ever known in the district. The

lightning was extremely vivid, and appeared to burst in thousands of bolts just over Leeston.

In the middlo of the storm a whirlwind struck the town of Leeston, completely overturning the Salvation Army Barracks, and leaving the building upside down. The building is 150 feet long by 100 feet wide, and is now standing on its roof unbroken.

Mr James Maxwell’s wheelwright’s shop was completely taken away, and deposited on Durant's grain store and in other places. Mr Durant’s grain store was partly unroofed, aud its windows were broken, his stables also being wrecked. Mr Fish’s watchmaker’s shop is turned right round, and Mr Cunningham’s grocery store is damaged. The Salvation Army were holding service at the barracks at the time of the disaster, and people were inside the building at the time it was turned over. Ensign Davis has an arm broken, and Mrs Davies and other members are cut and shaken.

Very heavy rain fell, almost like a waterspout. The rainfall was particularly heavy at Dunsandol.