WINTER GALES

Southland Times, Issue 18829, 24 May 1920, Page 5

WINTER GALES

THE OTATARA EMBANKMENT. DAMAGE DONE BY STORM. The fierce winds and the spring tides experienced during the last few days have caused the ordinarily calm waters of the estuary to become rough. On Saturday near the Gladstone bridge the water was over the roadway to the depth of a foot, while lower down the estuary the waves were beating against the embankment, running out from the foot of Tweed street with tremendous force. The embankment, along which the tramlines to Otatara run, is protected to a height of two or three feet by a stone wall, but practically all the earth above this wall on the north side as far out as the' rowing sheds, has been washed away by the water. In several places the line is only held together by the sleepers, and the damage caused is considerable. The metal road leading to the jetty runs along the south side of the tramline, but as the water has a break of six or seven feet after passing over the tramline embankment, it is not considered likely that the road will be damaged. The extent of the damage to other reclamation works is not known. The storm yesterday was responsible for many flooded streets and overturned fencer. The violence of Friday night’s gale may be gauged from the fact that a quantity of stacked timber in Nith street was carried out of a section and deposited in the street—unstacked. A large board continued its journey across the street where it embraced the telephone wires. A short and sharp struggle ended in the wires collapsing, and the board continued its flight, which finally ended in a holly hedge.

WINTRY WEATHER IN DUNEDIN. (Per United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 23. A sudden change occurred in the weather over the week-end to wintry condition;-. There was boisterous and squally weather with snow and driving sleet showers on Saturday afternoon and night, but the weather was much milder to-day. DAMAGE IN WAIRARAPA. CARTERTON, May 22. A howling gale, with intermittent gusts of hurricane force, was experienced here last night. Fences, gates, etc., have been blown down. The gale still rages, but the fierce gusts are fewer. Frequent showers of heavy rain have fallen. BUILDINGS DAMAGED AT MA3TERTON. MASTERTON, May 22. Masterton was visited last night by a gale of exceptional violence, reaching the force of a hurricane at times. Considerable damage was done to outbuildings, fences, and chimney.- 1 , and big trees were uprooted. The gale is still raging.