WHIMS OF NATURE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 45, 16 November 1937, Page 4

WHIMS OF NATURE

Fogs, Storm and Earthquake Yesterday TKIO OF DISTURBANCES Yesterday was rather a remarkabte day in Hawke's Bay for unusual disturbances of nature, there being recorded an electrical storm in the vicinity of Porangahau, an earthquake shock thrqugh the province, and a heavy seafog in Hastings and other inland towns. Investigations made by tbe Post and Telegraph Department into the telephonic disruption at Porangahau yesterday aflynnoon revealed that this was due to the electrical storm and not the earthquake shock, as was otiginally thought. It was found that all the wires at Wallingford liglitningguard hoxes had been earthed as the result of the storm and the fault was quickly remedied. t Except to provide a spectacular display in the sky and to cause heavy rain for a few hours the vis-itation was not responsible for any other damage. An unUsual occurence in Hastings late yesterday afternoon was the blanketing of Hastings and Havelock North and the surrounding districts in a heavy sea fog. It is some years since such a heavy sea fog was recorded in this district. A Hastings resident, who was on the Havelock North hills during the afternoon, reported that the bank of fog could be seen coming towards Hastings from the direction of Napier. Between five and six o'clock it was necessary for'motorists to exercise special care owing to bad visibility. The fog cleared in the early part of the evening but reappeared again with greater densiiy about 10 o'clock. There was a distinct tang of sea air about .the atmosphere and again vehicular traffie was slowed down yery appreciably.