CYCLONE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1929, Page 5

CYCLONE

MTTH M’ATERSPOUT.

A 1 ANY HOUSES DAAIAGED

GREYMOUTH, December 7.

Last evening with no more warning , than the fact of the weather having been wet and nor’-westerlv, Greymouth just before half-past seven o’clock, was visited by a cyclone, which, in company with a waterspout of comparatively moderate -dimensions came across the town from the sea. travelling in a southeasterly direction. One resident who happened to he looking seawards from Cowper Street at the time observed a thin dark column standing up from the ocean, and moving landwards, and as she continued to gaze westward the cyclone arrived and smashed the window through which she was looking, cutting one of her fingers severely. The cyclone appears to have had a width of less than one hundred yards, but its track, while it may have narrowed as it progressed, was left well defined by the damage which it left in its wake. Those residing in the vicinity of the track were all made alarmedly aware of its arrival but the howling of the wind and the smashing of materials. In other parts of the town, however,: the only sign of the phenomenon was the extinction of the electric lights at about 7.27 o’clock. People as far inland as Kilgour Road, seeing the flying sheets df iron and other debris floating skywards to the west, thought the wind was lashing the lagoon to a great height, but this spectacle was really the waterspout, which rapidly diffused itself, and reached the eastern side of the lagoon only in the form of an exceptionally heavy downpour of rain.. The half dozen or sp of houses which suffered a more or less degree of roofing destruction on the Blaketown yside of the lagoon, and a similar number on the opposite side provided debris in plenty to indicate the course of the wind. Sheets of iron from the houses which suffered most in Cowper Street were to be seen flying over the hills, and even across the valley in which the rifle range is located. Damages reported include :—Mr H. Rattray had the root lifted bodily from his new bungalow in Cowper St. The roof was carried' to the north side of Franklyn Street, where it struck the residences of Messrs A. Cawley and j. Braidwood. The result was that half of the roofing iron from these structures was also carried away. At Mrs Griffin’s house, near Mr Rattray’s,, the brick chimney came down, while at Mr Ivay’e house and Mr M r . Sullivan’s, there was minor damage done in the same street, likewise at Air Pascoe’s house in Franklyn Street, and Mr Davis’s house near the Children’s Park In Kilgour Road the worst; damage was sustained by Air Nicbol’s bouse situated between the residences of - Alessrs AlcDougall and R.' Reid, yyliilsfc residences nearer to High Street were lucky to escape when flying sheets of iron flashed between them.

At Blaketown the force of the cyclone may be realised by the fact that a portion of Air Shenhan’s wash-house was lifted bodily into the air and carried over 200 yards, after' which it was deposited into the lagoon. Mr Sheahan’s garage was also completely twisted round, and tools and. benzine were scattered in all directions. The back portion of Mr D. McGjrr’s roof was carried away, aiitt several of his windows were broken. Indeed, a particularly nerve-racking experience was that through which Air George AloGirr passed. He was in one of the outhouses when the cyclone struck it, and the next moment he had the sensation of being lifted into the air with the building, and then being precipitated through the aperture, where a few moments before the roof had been. As it was, he was fortunate in escaping with some facial injuiies. A wash-house, a few yards away from the house was found to have been jammed against the back door of Mi Frank Graham’s house, while his windows and chimneys also suffered. There also was minor damage done to the residences of Alessrs J. Crooks, W. Curry and J. Weaver. All the other residents also suffered to some extent, for after the visitation it was found that facing the sea it left hardly a fence standing. ..