THE WEATHER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3326, 3 November 1919, Page 5

THE WEATHER.

CYCLONIC GA-LE IN TAIHAPE.

For several days past high Winds have been the rule in Taihape--a somewhat unusual occurrence in this town. Sunday was a particularly boisterous day, the force of the windggradually in--creasing, until after sundown a gale, almost cyclonic. in its imtensity, was blow The wind swept along from the north, carrying dust and grit in its whirling cal‘e.er, making it extremely unpleasant to be out 10f doors. So great was the velocity of the wind which at one period last‘. night was so high that it was with diflieulty pedestrians could con'fend with it. A light rain set in this morning_. which miti-gated the dust n'uisa.nce to some extent. Outside the Borough area. there had been ‘isolated logs burning for a day or two, but the gale livened these up. land the fims spread with great rapidity from log to log, until the area of fire was very considerable. Up to Otaihape Valley Road there was a ;g.r.eat mass of fire; in fact, the whole locality seemed to -be ablaze, and Mr Spooner had ‘an very anxious time among his sheep, and it is anticipated there will be some losses.

On ‘the Papakai Road, too, there was an element of danger from the spread of log fires, and Mr D. Scott was on the alert most of the night, owing to the risk of the fire spreading. The Stafe Farm Road area. was also very much alight, but so far as can be ascertined, there was little 1-ohss sustaineh beyond the burning of some fencing.

BAD TIME IN WAIRARA"A.

TARURUA RANGES ON FIRE.

WELLINGTON, This Day.

, A northerly gale swept Wellington during the Week-end, and was particularly severe in the Wairarapa, district‘ Masterton '%uffel-ed a good deal of damage, trees being uprooted, shop windows broken, and in one case crockery blown out on the street t-hroughthe broken plateglass windowsfi ; ‘ , Vt é » A fire started in the bush on the Tararua Ranges in the afternoon at Kaituna.» The-Masterton fire brigade waé despatched to aid in fighting the flames. The whole range‘_ appear-erl afire late at night. ‘ _ _

. THE WORST EVER. MASTERTON, this day. Masterton was visited last night by the most violent gale ever expreienced, Considerable damage was done _to buildings, etc," amounting to a very large sum. A heavy thunderstorm also occurred. A serious Bush fire'west of Masterton was fortunately put out by the rain. , 4 V 0 DANNEVIRKE ‘A RING OF FIRE. - DANNEVIRKE, This Day. A tremendous westerly gale, the worst experienced for many years, raged through Southern Hawke’s Bay on Sunday night. Isolated log fires were fanned into activity and despite the greenness of the countryside spread alarmingly rapid. Dannevirke township Was the central setting of a ring of fires. At Terehunga, Ruara, Umatora.,, Matamau, Piripire and Tiratu, the settlers were up all night protecting their homsteads and stock. In some cases the outsheds were destroyed, but so far no losses of homesteads ar reported. The bridge at Matamau on the main road to Napier was destroyed. Rain towards morning had a. subduing effect on the Wind and flames, but a neavy wind is still blowing. The gale at Matamau was the worst I'emenl'b~ered.

FIRE AT GREYTOWN. ‘ CARTERTON, this day. A fire at. Greytown last night totally destroyed the cordial factory occupied by Butte:-worth, and owned by Fullers.’ Estate. Butterwortlfls insurances were £SOO on stock; £IOO on machinery; Fuller’s insurance, £2OO on building; £250 on machinery, A tremendous gale was raging at the time. ‘ “'7 . The fiercest gale for many years visited Wairarapt last night. Fences are reported down, and a few buildings damaged. Nothing serious so far is reported, though in .o.rchards young stone fruits suifered severely.