EASTERLY GALE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5293, 29 June 1928, Page 2

EASTERLY GALE.

ROUGH DAY ON WEDNESDAY. NO DAMAGE REPORTED. On Wednesday a particularly rough afternoon and evening were experienced throughout the district. A falling barometer during the morning indicated that further ra’.p w.a,s imminent. and before mid-day the wind veered round to a more easterly direction, and increased in volume. Heavy rain, accompanied by a, strong gale, prevailed throughout the afternoon and well into the night. During the height of the storm the force of t’lw wind was greater than the amount of rain, as only .3-lin, was recorded during the 24 hours ended at 9 o’clock yesterday morning. On Wednesday afternoon lute, and during the night a number of interruptions. of varying durations, occur. re.l in the electric power supply. The Thames Valley Power Board’s stall had a particularly arduous time repairing the lines in an effort to maintain Uhe service. In some instances it was nccesary to isolate a certain circuit until the fault was detected, and remedied. The worst damages occurred on the Rangiora Road, al Komata, where a large tree fell across the lines, doing considerable damage. The break caused an interruption to the supply of the borough, which was thrown into darkness for some time. The electric interlocking and signalling system at the Paeroa Railway station was thrown out of commission. Fortunately there was sufficient electricity to operate the points and allow the Tauranga-Auck-laml train, which departs at 5.50 p.m., to leave on time, but the train had scarcely reached the bridge when the current again failed. The slow train from Frankton , Junction, which was delayed at stat’ons beyond Te Arolia, was over an hour and a half late reaching Paeroa. Yesterday dawned line, but there were showers of light rain throughout the morning. During the afternoon the wind' changed round to the southern quarter, and a fine, though coldafternoon and evening followed. Late last night the wind once again changed round, this time to a westerly direction, a,nd heavy rain fell throughout the night. This mcynlwg there were further heavy showers of rain, with brief intervals of sunshine. At 10 o’clock the barometer registered 29.54 degrees, witli a tendency to rise. The Thermometer registered 50 degrees. With ••the exception, of several trees being blown over no serious damage occurred during thie storm on Wednesday.