THE FORCES OF NATURE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1917, Page 4

THE FORCES OF NATURE.

, UPHEAVAL AT MOTUROA. The stormy weather last week reached the culminating point on Saturday morning, when there was a heavy thunderstorm, with heavy hail showers early iu the morning, and then, at about 10 a.m. the district of Moturoa and Spotswood was struck by a cyclonic visitation that resulted in the complete destruction of an eight-roomed dwelling, and the execution of considerable other damage. It is marvellous that there was no loss of life, as the wrecked house was ocen. pied at the time by a woman and five children, who had miraculous escapes. WHIRLWIND OR WATERSPOUT? The whirlwind or waterspout—there seems to be some question as to vvhut the visitation was—was seen by men working at the wharf to gather "in the sea, between Mikotahi and Paritutu. It rose until it appeared to reach a height of several hundred feet, a huge black mass, which began to move towards Paritutu, a spectator stating that it appeared as though it were an elephant's trunk moving round to see what it could devour. THE IRONWORKS' NARROW ESCAPE. It first struck the Ironsand Company's office and laboratory, tearing off half the - roof of the former and damaging the windows of the latter. The iron of the roof was carried into the air and blown over the country, as were also various papers from the walls and roof of the office, in which Mr. Payne, the manager, was working. Some wooden patterns were also scattered on the beach. Fortunately the jnonster missed the main building, which shook with the disturbance, as here there was heavy machinery, among wiiich several men were working, and probably a fatality would have occurred. OIL DERRICK DESTROYED. It then appeared to glide over the sandhills behind Mr. Knowles' hotel, passing over the old ironsand experimental works, which escaped damage, and removing treeß summarily from its path. No. 3 derrick of the Tnranaki Oil Company received its full force, and despite its strong construction was lifted 10 feet into the air and thrown to the ground, some thirty feet from its original site, becoming a wreck. It then ap. peared to travel over the hill, missing some houses and the oil refinery. It struck the hill, and Mr. W. Marr, who was watching its approach from the door of his residence just had time to shut the door when ft considerable portion of the roof was torn away, as well as the balcony and chimney. Other chtm. neys and trees also suffered severely. - A HOUSE DEMOLISHED. From here the whirlwind travelled across the Main South road, snapping a telegraph post. Fortunately no coastal cars were passing at the time, It then struck a two storey residence known as Blagdon, on the left hand side oi the Main South road, near the Devo» Line junction, and here the greatest havoc was wrought. This house, which was owned by Mr. Honey field and occupied by Mr. A. 11. Bensley, contained five rooms on the ground floor and three upstairs, and was practically surrounded by a belt of trees. It received the full torce of the visitation, and was quickly a mass of wreckage. Mr. W. A. Bailey (Mrs. Bensley's brother), who lives nearby, saw the whirlwind approaching, and hurried to. give warning. It, however overtook liiin at the front gate, but he had time to throw himself down, grasp the gate p»Tt, and so escaped, though the force tore his coat off: He snye that it carried considerable debris in the shape of iron, gorse, lupins, etc., and also a tetlegraph post. It parsed through the orchard, wrecking numerous trees, one being turned upside down, and passing on to the house, served it in a similar manner, making it a complete wreck. When Mr. Bailey reached this wreck lie discovered Fred, the eight-year-old son, pinned beneath the debris. Help, including two passing motorists, extricated the child, wlio' was carried into Mr. Bailey's house, where on Dr. Blackley's arrival it was''found that his collar bone was broken and his head and left log cut. He was later taken to the hospital.

FAMILY'S MIRACULOUS ESCAPE. Mrs. Bensley and her five children had miraculous escapes. She was in a bedroom on the ground floor, bathing her few-weeks-old baby, and had just lifted the baby put of the bath when the house was struck. The furniture of the room was thrown through the south wall of the bouse, and Mrs. Bensley and the child followed, and were then lifted and deposited half a chain away, the baby escaping with a few bruises, th» mother having both arms and one leg hurt, but not seriously. Two girls, aged thirteen and three respectively, were in the kitchen, and they received much the same treatment, the little girl sustaining a cut about the head 5 or (1 inches long. The two boys were upstairs, one, aged eight, was injured as described, whilst tl\e other, aged six, received n lacerated knee, also a cut on the back of the leg and a slight wound in the head. Some idea of the force of the disturbance may be gleaned from the way in which the trees were treated, huge pines and gums being snapped oft, uprooted and twisted in all directions. One eucalyptus, about three feet through, was twisted and snapped off like a carrot. Some of the iron was carried half a mile away. Mrs. Bensley's furniture was completely destroyed, all that was saved being a dreader badly damaged, two pillows and a mattress. Their clothes were scattered in all directions, some being discovered at Marfell'a in Westown, whilst a hat was found in Duncan and Davies' nursery. The live stock owned by Mr, Benslpy had a parlous time. A pig with its stye was carried away. The pig has since been discovered, but the stye is missing. One cow was turned completely over and the other was rolled to the bottom of the hill, and neither appear to be hurt, but one in full Ailk has given no milk since. . The visitation seems to have expended its force here, for, though it was observed to travel miles inland, no damage has so far been reported. THE DEBRIS AFIRE. During Saturday night 'the debris of the house and its contents caught lire, and was completely destroyed. Considerable sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. Bensley and their family of six children, who have practically lost everything, the children even losing their boots, as they were barefooted at the time. Mr. Bensley has resided in thi house for several years, having been employed as a storeman at the Moturoa freezing works. ASSISTANCE OFFERED. There was a very large number of