HEAVY DOWNPOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1917, Page 4

HEAVY DOWNPOUR.

(Per Press Association. —Copyright

New Plymouth, June 16 . A whirlwind and waterspout did considerable damage round Moturoa this morning. It fast struck t e new ironworks, unroofing the office and just missing the mixing house. Passing inland, it levelled one of the Taranaki Oil Coy’s derricks and unroofed a house. Furtlier on it struck an old farm house lifting it bodily and dropping it agai i smashing it to pieces. A woman and five children in the house had a narrow escape but only one was slightly injured.

Jill AVP RAIN IN WELLINGTON

MAN KILLED BY FALLING

WALL.

Wellington, June 17 Heavy rain, accompanied by lightning and thunder, set in yesterday afternoon and between 7.45 and 8.30 p.m. there was a tremendous downpour which soon flooded the streets of the city, and caused a temporary stoppage of the tram services to some of the suburbs. The worst effects were felt in Aro Street, where the blockage of a culvert caused a great scour. The water overflowed the footpaths and invaded some houses at Roseneath.

A man named W. P. Fitzgerald was walking by the side of his residence when a brick retaining wall collapsed crushing him to death, Deceased was a married man with seven children. Several small slips of earth occurred and the Hntt Road was badly scoured in places, but no other great material damage is reported. The Government Meteorologist reports that the rainfall in- the city for the 24 hours ending 9 a.m. was over two inches.

There have been other showers throughout to-day, but the weather appears to have cleared.