A WHIRLWIND.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1923, Page 2

A WHIRLWIND.

PASSES OVER SUBURBAN AREA DAMAGE AT RACECOURSE.

This morning about 9.45 o’clock a whirlwind of a destructive nature passed over a portion of the town. 'Hie approach of the whirlwind was lirst noticed by a great whirring sound, and it was seen that an air disturbance was taking place. It appeared at the southern end ol the cemetery hill, a whirling mass of tree tops and debris of every description; about a couple of chains wide and some 200 to 300 feet in height. The cyclone of wind swung round towards tho eastward, missing most of the residences. The racecourse buildings came in the track of the visitation and here most of the known damago was done. It struck behind the outside grandstand, which, however, was undamaged. The. horse stalls at the hack had the roof lifted up two to three feet off the supports, but then dropped back practically into position, though several sheets of tho iron were buckled. The Totalisator building was the next to receive tho attention of the visitation. The whole of tho roofing, (iron and woodwork) went up in the air with a great crash, tearing away a number of the outside posts and standards. The roof went away with a swirl, and smashed up in mid-air. One portion crashed into tho ienco of tho saddling paddock, carrying devastation in its path to a large portion of the fence. Another portion swung round in front of the main grandstand and came down in debris on the lawn without causing any further damage beyond the breaking of a small window in the judge's box. Tho balance ol the looi and iron went on a further journey. Portion came down at the rear of the main stand, while the balance was distributed over the land towards tho rear of the the course, some of the material travelling as far as the Kanieri road. It was miraculous how further damage was not done, the two main stands escaping injury altogether. The totalisator house is a wreck and that portion standing is badly strained. The contents, including the totalisator machine were at 011c© removed to co\or. The machine did not apparently suffer injury beyond the rear shutters being wrenched off. The caretaker (Mi (1 Fowler) was just in front of the No 2 grand-stand when the noise ot the approaching whirlwind drew his attention and he had a full view of its course and the devastation it caused ibe matter was immediately reported to the Secretarv (Mr D. J. Evans), who accompanied bv Air U. Thompson at once visited the course and inspected the damage. Arrangements were at once made to repair the damage. Tho whirlwind was seen to come m from tho sea somewhere opposite the lighthouse, and there strike the south end of Cemetery Hill, and the trees m its lino were bent and smashed as it made its way eastward. Luckily the main portion of the town escaped. Ibe caravan used on a lorry for picnm parties, stored near the old sawmill on Shallow Rush also was struck and was practically demolished. Yesterday, a heavy wind gust, on a smaller scale is reported to have done a considerable amount of damage to fences an doutbuildings in the vicinity of Hampden Street.