Town placed under military control.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1942, Page 4

Town placed under military control.

Press Assn.

Whangarei. Last Night.

A tornado which struck Kaitaia just before 11 o'clock this morning killed Terence White, aged 10 years, injured eight persons, who were sent to hospital, and did damage to property estimated in the vicinity of £60,000. Although roofs were failing in occupied shops, the casualties all occurred at various spots in Commerce Street and were caused by flying pieces of iron which also shattered windowpanes and parts of verandah posts. The visitation was preceded by thunder and a heavy hailstorm, followed by light rain. It was only of two minutes' duration, but for a large number of persons in the heart of the town it was two minutes of concentrated terror. Suburban areas escaoed almost unharmed, but on Awanui Road, part of which was in a direct lina of the path of the tornado. a new house was lifted, turned completely round and dashed to pieces. Coming from a westerly direction, the tornado hit the coast at Waipapakauri, where considerable damage was done to property and machinery and several persons slightly injured. Hardest hit is the firm of Archibald and Sons Ltd., whose two shops were extensively damaged. Two-thirds of the roof of the main shop in Commerce Street was. blown away, and the "Busy Store" on the corner of Awanui Road and a bakery were wreck-

ed. The replacement of stock and buildings is estimated to cost in the vicinity of £7000. Kaitaia is under military control. Pickets have been on duty since 1 p.m. and will remain on guard throughout the night. A W.W.S.A. official opened the service clubroom immediately, and it is estimated that within two hours from 400 to 500 hot meals and cups of tea were distributed to E.P.S. workers and members of military demolition squads. Clearing operations are continuing at a marvellous speed. Most of the buildings affected are of wood, which is making temporary repairs much easier. Windows are being boanied up, roofing material collected, streets swept and stocks stored away from the weather. Damage and casualties in the town occurred within a space of five seconds, but a penetrating, roaring noise continued for two minutes. Some distance south of the town a milking shed was flattened and, to quote the words of the owners, disappeared into the hills. Sheets of roofing iron, whirled from the town, are lying among the high country in the vicinity of a reservoir nearly two miles away.