SEVERE GALE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3723, 29 November 1927, Page 3

SEVERE GALE.

MUCH DAMAGE DONE LOCALLY.

TOWN PLUNGED INTO DARKNESS. Heavy rain was experienced locally all day yesterday, which, together with a cold southerly wind, made conditions very unpleasant. Towards evening, however, the rain ceased and. a howling sou’wester rose which developed into a severe gale before nightfall. Trees were uprooted in many parts of the borough, and Mr H. Reid, the local representative of the Horowhcnua Power Board had a busy time, attending to broken service lines.

At Mrs. J. H. Robinson’s residence on the Beach Road, seven huge pine trees crashed to the ground and completely carried away the service line in from the roadway leaving the homestead in darkness for the remainder of the night. The Town Clerk (Mr.-Wlm. Trueman), received word early in the evening that a bluegum tree had crashed down in the Cemetery at crashed down in the Cemetery at the corner of No. 6 Line.and Avenue Road, which completely blocked the roadway. The road staff was busy in another part of the Borough at the time and together with the Mayor (Mr. M. E. Perreau) and 'Cr. Lueinsky, work was commenced on cutting the tree up and clearing the road.

On Mr. A. Wright’s property in Norbiton Road, a tree came down quite near to the and set the horses careering madly around the paddock.

Two large 20 gallon drums standing empty at the service station in Main Street were picked up by the wind and hurled across Main Street into All Saints’ Church yard, while Mr. A. E. Tongs plateglass window and a fan light in Clyde Street were completely blown in. One window in the upstairs portion of Mr. Bryant’s billiard-room suffered a similar fate, while fences were raised to the ground in all parts of the borough, much damage being done to orchards and gardens. At Mr. 0. Dawson’s residence two big tanks were lifted bodily from their stand and hurled to the ground. Iron was also torn from the roofs of houses in various parts of the town, and chimney pots also suffered. At nine o’clock the whole town was plunged into darkness, owing to a tree falling across the power line between Foxton and Levin. Mr. Reid communicated with the Power Board engineer who was able, a few hours later, to supply Foxton with “juice” via Shannon. In the meantime, however, pictures and other means of entertainment in progress at the time were abandoned.

On makings their way to the fire early this morning Messrs W. Trueman and J. Christie discovered-the power fines down in Lady’s Mile, between Mr. A. Fraser’s property and the Manse. In the darkness sparkes eou'ld he seen “snaking” in all directions. The Power Board was immediately communicated with and the engineer asked that the fine be guarded until a gang could get over to Foxton to repair the damage. After daybreak Mr. C. Robinson drove a mob of sheep along the road and two lambs came in contact with the livt wire and were temporarily stunned. A dog in charge of the sheep received a bad burn on one of its forelegs as a result of touching the wire. One end of the fine had fouled Mrs. Walker’s telephone wires but she was apprised of the fact and warned not io use the ’phone. Mr Smith (Power Board Engineer) arrived on the scene shortly after, and after cutting off the “juice” at the substation the broken wires were rolled up and attached to the poles. The break was responsible for the failure of the fights at the Beach and all the street lights. The Power Board had all its gangs out all night and are to be commended on the prompt measures taken to repair any damage to service lines. Everything was in working order this morning by 8 o’clock. f The scaffolding at the new District High School also suffered a severe buffeting and had to receive reinforcement at the hands of the employees last evening. The river, backed by the gale, rose rapidly last night and looked as though it would seriously erode the bank at the rear of the Presbyterian Manse. Little damage was done, however. Some anxiety was felt for the safety of the's.s. Kennedy, which left Wellington for Foxton yesterday afternoon, but it is surmised that the vessel would put into Kapiti Island and weather the storm out there. Three large trees are down in the cemetery, and one in Avenue Road. The road staff is busily engaged in clearing away the fallen trees in the cemetery. Although a few ’phones were reported out of order this morning, very little damage appears to have been done to the wires.