CROPS RUINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1938, Page 9

CROPS RUINED

SEVERE HAILSTORM SWEEPS SOUTH CANTERBURY —♦ WORST FOR MANY YEARS. GOODS IN SHOPS DAMAGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU, December 21. A severe thunderstorm struck South Canterbury this afternoon and was followed by one of the worst hailstorms experienced for many years, goods being damaged and crops of all descriptions ruined. Heavy rain fell in Timaru, but the hailstorm went across the country, striking Pleasant Point, Temuka, and Geraldine. In the two last-named places hail lay on the ground some inches thick. During the height of the storm the streets and roofs carried a mantle of white, giving the towns a wintry appearance. Hail blocked the spoutings and when heavy rain set in later water poured into business premises, dislocating business and causing considerable damage to stock. In some homes windows were smashed by the hail. The rainfall recorded for the year in Timaru up to tonight was 39.20 inches, which is the highest on record for more than 40 years. BIG AS GOLF BALLS. HAILSTONES IN OXFORD DISTRICT. CHRISTCHURCH, December 21. A heavy thunderstorm from the south-east broke over the Oxford district about 1 p.m. today. It was preceded by an exceptionally heavy, hailstorm; the hailstones were described by residents as jagged pieces , of ice, the largest being about the size of golf balls. In the Warren district the storm was accompanied by a whirlwind which caused considerable damage. Two telephone poles were snapped off close to the ground, heavy branches of trees were broken off and hurled high in the air, and some crops were partly ruined by the whirlwind, which seemed to be confined to a width of about' ten chains. At Carlton, Mr A. E. Cross was a heavy loser. The whole of one side of his glasshouse, containing 120 panes of glass, was destroyed by hail, and 15 panes in his house were shattered. Reinforced skylights on some of the outbuildings were also shattered by the hail. His crops were extensively damaged, about two-thirds of one paddock of oats being ruined. A second storm broke about 6 p.m. with torrential rain and hail. The rainfall recorded at Carlton was I.lBin from 1 o’clock, neither storm lasting any longer than half an hour. The ground was white with hailstones on each occasion.