VI0LENT HURRICANE AT CLERMONT N.S.W.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 318, 21 November 1888, Page 3

VIOLENT HURRICANE AT CLERMONT N.S.W.

A Clermoxt correspondent telegraphed on the 31sb Oct. : " The most viole it hurricane that was ever experienced here swept over the town last evening. The heat, had been exceptionally severe for some days previous. Ai 4 o'clock in the afternoon heavy clouds gathered in the north-east, and swept round towaids the south-east. The whole southern sky was one dense black cloud, with the exception of a spot in the south-west, where there was a peculiar oval-shaped orangecoloured cloud in the centre of the black clouds. Immediately afterwards the storm burst, an indescribable hurricane of wind and dust coming from the south-west and enveloping the town. Nothing could be seen all round about but one yellow -.coloured cloud, and the force of the wind was so great that no one could stand in the streets. The roofs of buildings immediately commenced to go. Sheet 1 * of galvanised iron, shingles, and other debris Hew about in all directions, and the dust was juob suffocating. Thih lasted about twenty minutes, a d was succeeded by the most violent hailstorm ever expt licticed by tnos-e whp ■witnessed it. 'I ho velocity of fche wind continued a*, great as ever. Hailstones were driven through houses with terrific force. Some wei fe as large a<< small henb' eggs. ' This continued for about 15 minutes, when a heavy downpour of rain, las* ing about JO minubeb, succeeded the hailstorm. A great amount of damage has beon done. A number of buildings have, been dismantled or unrooted, sheets of iron have been blown off stores and hotels, tanks have been carried bodily away, and nearly every window in the town has been broken. The contents of houses and places of business in many cases have been damaged. Every fruit and flower garden about the town is completely destroyed, and hardly a leaf has been left on the f o. est ti ees. The Chinese gardener* have been heavy losers, as the fruit trees and grape vines, as wellas vegetables, have been destroyed. One estimates his loss in fruit at *300. The storm was severely felt at Copper Held, and other places in the surrounding district."

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