EASTERLY GALE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5269, 2 May 1928, Page 2

EASTERLY GALE.

SEVERE STORM IN PAEROA. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE. I After enjoying favourable weather, on Friday and Saturday, Sunday morning also dawned fipe, but before midday a stiff south-aastcrly breeze sprang up, and about 4 p.m. it veered farther round to the east and developted into a gale. As the afternoon and night wore on the wind, increased to almost hurricane force, and to make matters more discomforting heavy rain commenced to fall ait! 7.30 p.m. and contliHie'd intermittently until Monday night. The storm has caused numerous minor mishaps and damage. On Monday morning at least two motorcars had their hoods either, turned im side out or badly buckled, and a large barn and cowshed on the Wai'hi road was demolished, while several fences have been laid flat, including the mortar and brick fence between! the Royal Mail Hotel and Messrs Branan and Co.’s garage. A large plntts iw signus tree was uprooted near the Railway Settlement. Whait might have been a serious accident occurred at Mrs 0. Parkinson’s residence, Te Arona Road, on

Monday. At about 11 a.m. there

Was a crash, and a high double chimney came down. Some of the bricks crashed through the roof, smashing a table and, a chair and also the flooring boards. To add to the danger the falling bricks and debris caused two shelves of jam and preserves to ftill, and broken bottles added to the mess and confusion. Fortunately Miss Parkinson had moved away from the cooking range only a few seconds before the crash came. The scene in the kitchen after, the crash was a pathetic one, and Mrs. pa.rkinson i s a heavy loser. Thera were also many small sl-eds and fences levelled, while large trees MWe uprooted apd in some instances carried some distance.

The territorials, in, camp at t’he Racecourse had an unenviable experience on Sunday night and Monday morning, and with the continuity of rain l causing the ground to become more sodden, their difficulties iif created, as the tent peg?; would 'not hold -in the ground. Although, several tents and one marquee gave way and collapsed under the gale the troops made the best of a bad’ job and accepted the ruling of the fateq with cheerfulness. On Monday night they were billeted hr- the Jockey Club’s' buildings, where they were made as comfortable as possible. An dlrictric light pole was on the verge of being blown over oil Monday morning and the Thames Valley Electric Poweit Board’s gang was apprised of the position anti arrived in time to sufficiently stay the pole. An electric service wire between the Post Office and the Nationci Bank, off the main l feeder line, also broke, but owing to the prompt attention of the repair. gang no damage occurred. During the height of the storm, about .2.30 p.m., a large signboard on top of a small shop occupied by M’sa McFadgen in Belmont Road was carried across the electric service lines and broke them* causing a stoppage of current in that area until repairs could be effected. A shop verandah and.'parapet was also demolished! in Belmont Road, and a plate-glass, window was broken by falling debris. There were power interruptions throughout the afternoon, gpme of the stoppages being caused by damage to service lines in the borough. The lengthy stoppage was caused; by failure on the main Horahora line, and power w.as. later supplied from McLaren’s Falls., Tauranga. On making inquiries this morning, it was learn 1 - ed from one of the Thames Valley Power Board’s engineers, that matters were now nearly back to normal again, but electricity was still] being received from McLaren’s Falls.

. The rain on Monday afternoon was. ve ; ry heavy, and for the. 2.4 hours enXli ed at .9 o’clock yesterday morning a total fall of 3.76 inches was recorded on the gauge at the local office of, the Public Works Department. The water Channels and draiins were hard put to it at times to cope with' the deluge, but no serious damage, has Seen reported. The Ohinemuri River was running bank-high early yesterday .morn’ng, and the flood, rose to a height of 27ft 3in oh'f-he gauge at-the Criterion bridge. Forunately the stopbanks held, and the riverbanks being fairly clear, the water got away satisfactorily. At 11 o’clock this morning the river had gone down I.6ft 9in. The large lifting barge, which is being used by the Public Works Department in connection with the demolition of the old Criterion bridge, caused the department some awxiety during the gale, but it was securely moored; fore and aft and rode out tlte storm. Numerous reports came to hand yesterday morning of windows Having been broken, small shrubs and) trees uprooted, fences levelled, and plants in gardens forces out of the grtfund. There were several light slnowers yesterday, but the wind changed and did much Cowards drying up tiie r'alinsoaked ground. At 11 o’clock this morning the bare-' meter was steady at 29.93 inches. WATER INVADES WHARFSHED. Sensing that! a heavy storm w!as imminent, the local agent for the Northern Steam Ship Co. (Mr J. W- Silcock) mustered! a gang of men at mid' 'night on Sunday n.ight and hiad all the cargo,in the sheds at the Ngahina wharf stacked upon grills several feet above the ‘level of the floor. This wise precaution s.avc.d. 1 many pounds’ worth of damage being done, because as tiie volume of water in itilic Wai'hou River infcreased the flood waters invaded the shed to a depth of friom ten inches to a foot without doijpg any serious damage.