VIOLENT STORM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 August 1938, Page 5

VIOLENT STORM

MANY PARTS OF DOMINION SWEPT PHENOMENAL HAIL SQUALL IN WELLINGTON STREETS FLOODED IN MANY PLACES (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Heralded by low barometric pressure, which was fairly general in the southern portion of the North Island, a storm of exceptional severity swept Wellington yesterday afternoon and early last night, culminating in a phenomenal hail' squall and heavy rain shortly before 7 p.m. Storm waters and large hail stones choked gutters and culverts in many city streets, causing considerable flooding and a dislocation of traffic. In several localities the water spread right across the roac), invaded footpaths and penetrated the floors of city stores, causing damage to stock. Extensive flooding occurred on the Hutt Road between the Thorndon tramsheds and the site of the old Lambton railway station. All traffic and trams, including an ambulance, was held up temporarily until the water subsided. Stormy weather was experienced in many parts of the southern half of the North Island and in some districts the electric power supply was cut off and telegraph lines were brought down by fallen trees. In Wellington yesterday the barometer was reading at 9 p.m. 29.25 in, having fallen an inch since noon, and .85 in since the previous midnight.

POWER FAILS SERVICES IN WANGANUI DISORGANISED MARTON DISTRICT IN DARKNESS WANGANUI, August 9. The storm which is sweeping the North Island struck the Wanganui district early this afternoon. Communication between New Plymouth and Wanganui was lost through trees falling across lines at Egmont village, Midhirst and Kaponga. The first trouble experienced in Wanganui city was when the lights failed at about 4 p.m. for a short period, but after coming on again they were out for about 45 minutes from 5 p.m. Trams stopped in the streets and homegoing crowds were forced to walk in pouring rain. Though not directly affected by the power fault, the telephone service was disorganised to a certain extent and many telephones were out of action. The Wanganui fault arose from the storm blowing part of a pole switch on an 11,000-volt line at Imlay Freezing Works apart, and the whole of the city’s lighting power was disconnected. At about 6.15 p.m. the light was restored, but telephone and telegraph services were still seriously affected. Although the main power lines in Wanganui were quickly repaired by emergency gangs, many subsidiary lines were out of order in the district. Lights were extinguished in Marton late in the afternoon and the surrounding district was serious affected by fallen poles and trees across the line.

BUILDING WRECKED SERIOUS DAMAGE REPORTED AT ELTHAM COUNTRY DISTRICTS SUFFER ELTHAM, August 9. Eltham felt the full force of a northwest gale which has been blowing since just before noon. At 2.30 p.m., when the storm was at its height, a large single-story concrete building, lately occupied by Mr Ira -J. Bridger, became almost a total wreck when the wind got under the roof, with the result that the outside walls were pushed out, and the roof fell with a crash through the floor to the cellar. All plate-glass windows were also wrecked and the shop next door was also considerably damaged. If the gale continues longer there is danger of the whole of the top of the building collapsing. The power failed shortly after 2 p.m. because of trouble with the main line at Tariki, where a huge tree fell over the line. Damage was done in the country districts where fences are down in all directions. Wireless poles, fences, sign posts, verandas and chimneys in the town suffered severely.

BOMBER TURNED OVER CAUGHT BY STRONG GUST AT NEW PLYMOUTH MISHAP JUST AFTER LANDING NEW PLYMOUTH, August 9. A Baffin bombing machine of the New Zealand Air Force was damaged at New Plymouth aerodrome today when it was caught by a strong gust of wind just after landing and was turned ovex' on its back. The pilot was not injured. The machine, piloted by Squadron Leader Grundy, ran into very strong head winds after leaving Wellington this morning for Auckland, and it took three hours and a quarter to reach New Plymouth, where Squadron Leader Grundy landed to refuel. Gusts of wind on the aerodrome were very strong and one exceptionally strong gust caught the machine and turned it over. The ends of the wings were broken and the plane will have to be dismantled to be taken to Hobsonville base fox' repairs. ROOFS BLOWN OFF CANTERBURY AND WEST COAST DISTRICTS MANY POWER INTERRUPTIONS A fierce north-westerly gale swept Canterbury, West Coast and South Canterbury, causing damage to power

lines, power failures and damage to buildings. North of Waiau suffered most severely. Power lines were damaged neai' Cheviot, where trees and poles were blown down. Similar conditions prevailed north of Kaikoura, and five miles south of Kekerangu the power failed through trees being blown across lines. Many buildings were damaged by the gale. Several roofs were blown off. * The district engineer, Mi' H. C. Brent, said that by 9 o’clock tomorrow morning power would be restored temporarily, and when these adjustments had been made permanent repairs would be undertaken. ALMOST NORMAL TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH SERVICES (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Post and Telegraph Department advises that telephone and telegraph communication throughout the Dominion is now virtually normal. Telegraph communication to Auckland via Napier and Taupo is not yet restored, but as telephone communication is available on that line it is hoped the whole position will soon be restored to normal. Telegraph communication between Wellington and Auckland via the Main Trunk and western route has been regained. Two multiplex circuits to Christchurch are now working. While transmission may be subject to slight interruption while permanent repairs are being effected, it is unlikely that traffic will be delayed to any extent.