DAMAGED BY HAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 21 January 1930, Page 2

DAMAGED BY HAIL

NORTH OTAGO CROPS. HARDLY WORTH CUTTING. (By Telegraph—Press Association). OAMARU, January 19. On Friday; afternoon a hailstorm similar to that experienced at this period last year passed over the recognised track of such visitations to North Otago. At the Te Puke Settlement, near Georgetown, hailstones with a circumference of two inches and a half were measured. They were of varying shapes—some were like small eggs with a hard surface of smooth ice,, while otlierH were jagged. Two neighbouring farmers, Messrs A. J. Smith and W. 11. Tillett, suffered severely. Air Smith had twenty-sev-en acres of wheat, Hunter’s and solid straw Tuscan, which gave promise of a forty-bushel crop. It had a fine growth of about 4ft bin, with wellfilled heads. It received such a thrashing that at least half the expected yield will be lost. An excellent field of. ten acres of Garton oats, estimated to produce forty-five bushels, was knocked about so badly as to be hardly worth cutting. Rape and turnip crops also suffered, although the damage is not so extensive as that suffered in the disastrous hailstorm on January 7 last year. In view of individual losses. Mr J. A. Mncpherson ALP: has communicated with the Commissioner of Crown Lands asking him to send as urgently as possible a competent Field Inspector to investigate thoroughly and report on the damage done, as it is essential to have an early inspection in order to assess 1 the extent of the damage.