NORMOUS DAMAGE BY HAILSTORM

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5292, 3 January 1947, Page 5

NORMOUS DAMAGE BY HAILSTORM

I (Press Assrt.-

■ — 4* I O-MINUTE VISITATION IJNDREDS STRUCK DOWN I , IN SYDNEY

-Jier. 0.30 p.m.)

1 SYDNEY, Jan. 2. phe total damage by the teninute hailstorm yesterday lernoon — probably the worst idney has experienced — may ias high as £500,000. A preiinary official estimate fixes k damage in eastern suburbs jabout £250,000. p.1 Earlwood. where some of the fcst hnilstones smashed tiles on |iy houses. letting in subsequent ti, the damage has iiecn placed at |0,i)()(). Ii all. 25 subui'ban areas were afled, as well as a iarge proportion itho city. Highest possihlc priovitv will be

fcn by the SluU Government to lerials requhed for repairs. Tiles, l ai'd laberr are very searce. Ihe" Australian glass wor ks elose In tii-day f«>r annual nverhaul and Irve stmto air low. The manufacI of glass has been hampeved jsince I war i>y -hortaye of alkali, whieh lain has been sapplying only in Ited •■iianjities, Iriu' uroafest damage was done in ie Roiuli area between fhe beach ■d Bellevue Ilill, where Ihousands ■ windows were broken and many Eldings flooded. lospit.'.ls ; nd amb.bmees treated |e :han 350 storm casualties, in liy of whh-b v.'ounds requiret Ihe-. Hiindivds oi' ot.'ier people did I seek kdlri s.iuntioa for minnr I and bnuses. Iltliouvh oniy 1:2 were treated at Idwk'k. it is os'timuted that over I were inji n ti. lasnalries wc.re heavy at the li'ded b; a he.-. where ileuisands of |)le were uiable to rea.-li sheltor Ire ti'e storm broke. Ibout 10 people were injuvod at the liey sports gronnd, where a IlighI ■ atheriii!;- vas in nrogress. Ire vi'!'? few easuatties at Randk raiuv it""-e. as ;he big stands li 'ed adepu-ite si eher. The horses j I moved rapidly to t!u:iv stalls to i I them irom irjury. People caugh« in the open by the j Irni, whieh broke with terrify- I I suddenness, were knocked un- j Iseious or cut bv hailstones, j lieh rantred in size from pigeon's j fes to tennis balls. j In* Sfete iietcorolo/rist said the j I i'ell fr.evi a. height of 1 5,090!"' j Ias an ordirary loeal thanders'torni 1 lcrvao'-diravy intensity. I Tasma*, dyinn l»oa{ arrived froni j I Zealati-i dnrimr the height oi' | I storm and the nassengors and j I experienced ari anxious 10 minI The Hyiun iinat was foreed tc I If'uh- 'ti .-.rder to prevent an Een' and eireled ihe city until it ■ sa-'e tii land. Imireuer uf aerujilaiies at Mascot fcrt ueie damajred by hail, whieh i ■ed ' :"c rnips and fu-elayes. DurRhe -term a Dra.u'on Rapide landed ■y. !n;t was almost cut to ribbons. fetsixe h iilstoues smashed thc j 1'Shield- ijud windows uf motor j land peneirated fabric hoods. mises with ulass skyli»-hts and J k sutlered heavy damage. ■ultry farmers sufTered severe j Bs, iiuraheds of birds liein.p1 killed j Bie has!. Gveat daniaire was done Birdens.