EASTERLY GALE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4865, 14 August 1925, Page 2

EASTERLY GALE.

HEAVY STORM IN PAEROA. NO DAMAGE REPORTED. Following on the report from the . Government Meteorologist on Friday morning that a storm Was brewing, the district was visited by. an easterly gale on Friday afternoon. Although the morning dawned fine, before midday heavy rain clouds had banked up and by 4 p.m. a strong easterly gale had sprung up, which incieajsed tp hurricane force as the night wore on. Before dark torrential rain had begun to fall locally, and this state of affairs obtained until after midday yesterday, when the wind subsided somewhat and the rain eased off to a condition of frequent heavy showers. A scene of desolation, reminiscent of mid-winter, presented itself in the borough yesterday morning. All the low-lying areas were completely inundated, and many of the storm-water drains, unable to cope with the large volume of water, overflowed in all directions. During Wednesday night branches of treeis were blown down, small shrubs uprooted, and in more than one instance panes of glass in windows were blown in. The Ohinemuri River rose to the 15ft mark on the gauge at the Criterion bridge, but there was only a small increase in the depth of water at the Ngahina wharf. At high tide, about 4.30 o’clock yesterday after- - noon, the water backed up to a fair height, but /there was ample clearance under the wharf. The outfall drains in the Kaimanawa and Komata areas overflowed, and the low-lying portions of the land were inundated. The local telephone exchange attendants experienced a trying time yesterday, and until late afternoon the Paeroa-Thames telephone wires were in contact. During Wednesday night several telegraph polep near Karangahake were blown down, and there was no communication between Paeroa and Waihi. The regular train services were maintained during the day. _ Late last night the weather conditions locally improved considerably and the wind sheered round to a moie southerly direction. This morning tne barometer was still low, but the weather has greatly improved. Communication with Waihi was restored late yesterday afternoon, and matters in the local exchange are working smoothly again. The Taniwha made a good trip from Auckland last nigh, and arrived at the Puke early this morning. She sails on the return trip at 2.30 o’clock this afternoon.

No serious damage as a result of the gale has been reported.