STORMY WEATHER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4521, 23 October 1930, Page 3

STORMY WEATHER.

A gale, of sovcjre intensity visited Foxton yesterday and did minor damage. Orchards and gardens suffered severely.

Shortly after 8 n.m. tbo power went oil when it .was discovered that a piece bad been split oil the top of a polo on the line which conducts the Ilorowhenua district’s supply of electricity from the pmv-er-bouse at Mangaore to the substation at Shannon. The mishap caused the power to be cut off from the whole of the Board's district for a couple of houli-s. Fortunately for dairy farmers who use machines, it happened when milking operations were over. The piece that was split from the pole made contact with a wire and burnt it through. The service, was restored by means of temporary repairs. Permanent repairs however, effected last night, between the hours of 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. when the power was cut off. During the. morning the river was backed up to an unusual height, due to spring, tides and the westerly gale. Two launches moored in the .vicinity of Nye’s Mill on the river bank, belonging to Messrs Irwin and J. Broad respectively, wore swamped while a number of “Hatties” also temporarily disappeared. Mr. Irwin’s launch broke its mooring rope and was driven ashore near Mr W. Wilson’s whare. Mr. Wilson states that he .has never previously seen the river as high as it was in this locality yestonlay, not even in flood time. Whitcbaiters were driven front their “possies” and more than one canq) was blown down, \flie river had the appearance of a heavy sea with weaves breaking right across it. Strange to say, despite the conditions a fair quantity of whitebait was caught during tins day.

At the beach conditions were most unpleasant. 'Sand was blown into residences all along the beach. The tides were higher than they have ever been previously and beach residents found it impossible lo get along the river fojreshore. The water was right up to the houses and the only method of traversing the beach was by means of the sandhills.

The gale abated during the night however, and on the whole the district is fortunate that the damage to -power and telephone lines was as light as it was.