SNOW, STORM, AND GALE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1916, Page 5

SNOW, STORM, AND GALE.

I': OIL DELIAS BLOWN DOWN,' ' Oil Wednesday, afternoon, Ifadley'i oil derrick between the Upper Carriage ton and !• rank ley Roads was blown down. The derrick was stayed with) four guy ropes, which held, but the posts (or anchors) were completely up« rooted from the ground, 'I wo oil derricks at Moturoa—No. 4 and one near the Mission Hall, both beh nging to the Taranaki Company—and unite a number oi trees and fences in .i.fnrwit parts of the town havo been blown down. OX THE COAST. The mail eoach drivers between Ne». Plymouth and Opunake had ft trying / time of it yesterday morning and Wednesday night. They were blinded by tin; snow and, owing to the terriflo wind, had difficulty in keeping to the nad, passengers having to exert all their weight on the windward side. One <il the machines had its hood (a new, ' one) blown oft', and the same fate befel two other motors yesterday morning. A good deal of damage was done along the coast, trees being blown down aaq .-hrub-s, etc., uprooted. IN, NEW PLYMOUTH. In Xew Plymouth, the damage dona is not considerable. Branches of trees have been broken ' am] the tree ferns damaged. In the Park, the paths are strewn with broken parts of pungas, etc., but the grounds have escaped serious damage. INTERESTING MOTOR JOURNEY; The driver of the Daily News' through motor car had an interesting experience yesterday morning. He left New Plymonth at the usual hour (4.30), and ' made fair progress against the gale till he reached the Tariki-Waipuku portfon of the journey. Here in some of the dips he had to literally carve his way ( .rough the snow, which laid in places three ieet deep. lie encountered snow through Id EHtham, but, neveriheless, reached Hawera by 7.30, only twenty minutes behind time. The driver (Mr. T. Bransgrove, Jnr.), is to be commended for the pluck and skill he showed in getting through. Few of our southern subscribers expected to get tneir papers at the usual early hour, a.id would perhaps have forgiven the motorist if he had been late, The running .boards, etc., of his car was piled up with snow, and on his return Currie Street witnessed a sight ii probably never had done before—a snowball encounter between sundry energetic spirits. STORM AT RAHOTU. ' 'The exceptionally stormy weather of the last few days was severely felt alone- the coast. At Rahotu, on Wednesday afternoon and evening, there was a very unusual visitation in vthe shape of a snowstorm,'which lasted for several hours, and covered the ground to a depth of several inches. The snow iobtained for hours, even on. lands near the sea coast. Some lads experienced the delights of building snow men, and re.illy respectable specimens were designed and executed, though the youngsters were engaged in snow sculpture for the first time. Four 'or rive miles up the by-roads the spectacle was a magnificent one. Settlers, not manv years out from England. remarked ihat the white-carpeted earth reminded them strongly of the Old Country winter scenes. Yesterday morning there was no trace of snow, to be seen on the lower levels, though snow was still lying very thick for; several miles below the radius line. During the height: of the stoYm on ' Wednesday evening, an outbreak of Are was discovered in Mr. F. Ward's residence. The outbreak was fortunately discovered in its incipient stages, and j'lenty of willing assistance being forthcoming, it was extinguished with very slight damage. It is fortunate thai the fire was discovered before it had made much headway. Along the coast, a few fences have been levelled, one or two chimneys have been brought down, and some sheds have been unroofed. Several telegraph posts have been blown over, trees have been uprooted, but in a great many more cases the trees have suffered damage through the severe lashing destroying many of their branches, which have been scattered broadcast. Taking into consultnation the severity of the gale, the damage has been comparatively,, slight. In spite of the rough weather, Mr. Newton King's usual, cattle sale was held at Inglewood, on.' Wednesday, with satisfactory results, probably due to the new dairy sheds being used. With legard to the sheep, however, buyers did not put in an appearance. It is most) exceptional for a clearing sale to be postponed in consequence of the weather, but that was the case yesterday, when it was deemed advisable, iu consequence of the rough wcathei and snow, to put off Mr. J. Belcher's sale at Cardiff. RAILWAYS AFFECTED, V By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Yesterday. ■ The Railway Department advises thai the train from Paekaknriki to Palmerston encountered a terrific gale at Makerua near Shannon at 0.30 a.m. All the carriages were blown off the line, but Lne engine did not leave the rails. An elderly lad,v passenger was injured. Particulars of the accident are meagre. Telegraphic and telephonic communion tion is interrupted. CARRIAGES BLOWN OFF LINE, Palmevston, Yesterday! I The wildest weather for many year# has been raging yesterday and to-day, Numerous fences are blown down and other damage is reported. The railway traffic is disorganised and the line Was blocked near tokomaru for some hdura early this morning, the passengers by the express having to be transfeited from one train to another. The gale reached its height about 10 o'clock today. Further trouble was caused on the railway at Packakariki by the train being blown off the line near Tokomaru, all the vehicles except the engine and | one waggon leaving the rails. The guild's van failed to clear the line, causing a blockage of traffic. Nobody; was hurt.