WINTRY SPELL

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1933, Page 5

WINTRY SPELL

THROUGHOUT Is .I. STRONG GALES AND HAIL. (Per Press Association, Copyright). AUCKLAND, December 29. The wintry weather that has prevailed. for the last few days continued to-day. A marked drop in temperature and a southerly gale made conditions unpleasant lor campers, and did damage to stone fruit The north coast of the harbour felt the full force of the gale, and several small craft were driven ashore. The naval target, which was anchored broadside to the wind had a. decided list, which reached 30 degrees from the horizontal during strong gusts.

A sharp hail storm was experienced shortly before midday in some suburbs. Reports of similar conditions are being received from all parts of the province. In some places extensive damage has been caused to fences, chimneys and small buildings. It was reported late to-night that trees,have fallen across the Great South Road near Te Awamuiu, blocking the highway,

STORM RAGES IN POVERTY BAY. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE RESULTS. GISBORNE, December 29. A heavy south-west gale has' been raging, all day to-day, with gusts of wind at times of terrific force. A very heavy sea is running. 1 Fruit crops, especially early varieties of apples and peaches, have suffered severely. Telegraph communication both (north and south was interrupted at times through branches falling on the lines, and the work •is still being carried on under difficulties. At Wainui Beach, a seaside resort four miles front Gisborne, a house, the construction of which was only finished yesterday, was blown down, sections of the building covering the roadside. A little further on, a large gar;ige w|as blown (ilown. Mlany trees throughout the district have been rooted up, and the early maize , crops, where they are three or four feet high, are flattened. On top of Whai;eratf, Hills, on' the main highway between Wairoa and Gisborne, the gale is considered to have been tlm worst in history, whares being unroofed and .trees, even bluegums, are down in all directions, „ ■ ,

In Opotiki a heavy hail storm ; last evening was followed by fairly heavy frost, which, blackened pumpkins and also affected maize crops. '.

WELLINGTON SHIPPING AFFECTED; WELLINGTON, December 29. Dragging ‘ her moorings before n southerly gale, which swept the PeUne foreshore today, a,, 46 feet fishing launch, owned by F. C. Graham, of Petone, went aground at the west wharf, and to-night was in danger of becoming a total wreck. Little shipping'was delayed at Wellington by the storm, as there were few ships to . leave port. The .Picton ferry steamer Tamahine felt the full effects of the gale, and reached Picton an hour late. The departure of the auxiliary scow Talisman for Nelson has been postponed until the weather moderates, while the Totara, which was due to-day from Westport, is reported to be sheltering under Long Island. CONDITIONS IN WAIRARAPA. MASTERTON, December 29. A severe southerly storm was experienced in Wairarapa to-day, the wind doing considerable damage to fruit trees. There is now a good coating ot snow on the Tararua Ranges. ' SNOW IN HAWKE’S BAY. DANNEVIRKE, December 29. The weather has been very boisterous in this district. On the Ruahine range heavy snow has fallen for a day.

TRAIL OF DAMAGE IN TARANAKI. ELECTRICAL STORM OCCURS. HAWERA, December 29. An electrical storm of unusual severity left a trail of minor’ damage to services and crops in South Taranaki yesterday evening, lln ,'the outlying districts from Hawera several high extension fuses were blown out, interrupting the power service till midnight. A transformer fused at Pa tea where the storm lasted an Hour. Hail, ranging from the size of small marbles at Hawera, to'the dimension of pigeon’s eggs in outlying districts, fell over a wide area, and was followed by heavy rain.

A whirlwind advancing from the sea tore the tiles from the Hawera Hospital roof snapping the copper fastenings and leaving a gap six feet square, cut a swathe through a lucerne crop eight foot wide, and partly razed several trees. Two waterspouts at sea off Wayerley beach, approached rapidly, alarming campers, but eventually passed each side of tire camping reserve. The sea beneath each column was churned to fury. A terr’fic hail shower, eecoinpnniod by iiolilring and thunder ended tiio spectacle.