THE STORM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2464, 14 February 1893, Page 3

THE STORM.

TEMUKA. The most severe storm which the oldest inhabitant recollects -was experienced yesterday. The morning was wet, but about 10 a.m. it cleared up, and the weather was fine up to 2 p.m. At that time a dark cloud was seen coming from the sou'-west, and immediately the most tremendous gale of wind experienced for years began to blow. The dust began to blow about in all directions, rendering it practically impossible to move about. So violent was the;] storm that roofs were lifted off houses, trees were torn up by the roots, and stacks thrown down, while scarcely a stook in all the country was left standing. Any ripe crops still standing musthave been thoroughly threshed. The road along Victoria Park, Temuka, was scarcely passable, owing to trees lying across it. It is said that 70 trees altogether were blown down in the park. A large semi-circular window in Mr C. Storey's stable was blown in, and several sheets of iron were lifted off the roof. The Royal Hotel also suffered, one side of the roof having been stripped, and tho Temuka drill-shed was shifted three inches off the foundation. A large number of trees have been knocked down all over the district, and orchards and fruitgardeus have sustained very serious injury. The stooks all over the country have been blown about, and the stacks have been severely shaken. Sheaves of corn were carried a long distance, and strewn in all directions. Where the stacks have not been altogether blown down they have been opened out, and torn asunder on the side which felt the severity of the wind. A passenger from Timaru by train informed us that there was hardly a stack visible from the train but what had suffered, and between Temuka and Winchester things were as bad. The rope-walk at the Temuka Flaxmill was blown down, and some windows in tho Wolsoley Hotel were broken. The damage to the crops is dangerous, but duriDg the afternoon it was anticipated that the consequences would have been more far serious. After the storm had been raging for about three-quarters of an hour a shower of rain fell, which laid the dust, and moderated the violence of the gale. By 6 p.m. the weather became calm, and a very fine evening gave promise of a continuance of fine weather. The storm was terrible while it lasted, but we sincerely trust that it is all over, and that we shall have another week or a fortnight of fine weather. Rain would be very harmful just now, as there is a good deal of the crop still in stook, while some is not yet cut. We also learn that considerable damage was done to the telegraph iines, early in the afternoon communication with Timaru was interrupted and was not restored last night. GERALDINE.

After a spell of fine weather at Geraldine it broke yesterday morning with a mild shower of rain accompanied with excessive heat. In a few hours the rain cleared and gave place to sunshine and heat, but at about 2.30 in the afternoon a sudden, boisterous south westerly gale sprang up, and for an hour the township was one cloud of dust, and pedestrians had a hard time of it in trying to keep their feet, in fact it was next to an impossibility to face the strong wind that was blowing. Damage must have been done in unprotected places in the shape of lifting thatches and blowing down spouting. Fruit trees suffered considerably in some gardens, the trees being literally stripped. The tradesmen had their shops and goods disagreeably covered with dust, for even shutting the doors close was not sufficient to keep the dust out. Mr R. H. Pearpoint had both ends of his large glass verandah blown out, and it was lucky the ends gave way, otherwise the whole glass top would have gone. As it was the hands had to set to and rope it down. The gale was the strongest felt in Geraldine for many a day, and coming just as farmers have finished stacking, no doubt many stacks that have not yet set will have the tops blown off.

At Timaru the gale was felt severely, but beyond the damage caused to orchards, outbuildings, fences, _ etc., nothing serious resulted. All shipping work was for a time suspended, but the vessels in port sustained no harm.