A BIG STORM.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1925, Page 3

A BIG STORM.

UV TKLECKACn—J'ItESS ASSN., COVIIIGIIT. A L'CK LAND, .May 22. A heavy gale swejit over the city and .suburbs to-day. doing extensive damage to partly erected dwellings. Seaside cottages in some areas were also razed to the ground. The gale was aceom| aided by heavy ram which has now eased off.

Several launches in the harbour wor 0 driven ashore. .Many houses in the i ity were shaken to the foundations. ami many windows were blown in. The gardens fared, badly, the plants in many eases being levelled to the ground. The wireless aerials in vai i oils parts of the (ity were badly damaged. The full fury of the gale struck the city at daybreak, after six hours < f flouring rain. The collapse of a temporary structure which housed the Loudon .Medianical Exhibition ms one of Lhe most s[ c-tai-ulnr events of the storm, the buildings collapsing like a pack of cards. The Main Trunk expresses are waiting in Auckland station fur word that slips on the line in the south have been

cleared away. It is hoj ed to got them away before midnight, though whether there will he a delay in the journey south is not known locally. At Sui'fdal Waiheke three <oltages were blown away, and another at llowikn. Rough seas in the harbour made tilings lively for the ferry hunts, which however, were • h|e to hep to the timetables. Considerable iudoiiveuieiu e will he enueed to the shi||uug in port, as the (h'lay is uniiersal, in vie'-' of tlm cessation uf cargo operatums throughout the day. It is likely that the worst is over, as the evening is clear, with a rising glass. ELO(.)I) AT WANGANUI. AVANG-ANn, .May 22. There is a heavy llood in the river tonight. HEAVY RAIN AT TACMARANTL TAFMARANFI, May 22.

Heavy rain has been experienced again, since. 7 o'clock last night two inches fell. The Wanganui river is now three feet seven inches above normal, and is rising fast. The Ongaruc river is two feet above normal. Rain is still falling heavily.