SUMMER STORM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1939, Page 5

SUMMER STORM

WIND AND TORRENTS OF RAIN IN INVERCARGILL. MUCH DAMAGE REPORTED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL. January 9. A terrific clap of thunder that awakened Invercargill - a few minutes before 6 o’clock this morning heralded a day of fierce gales and torrential rains that wrought a great deal of havoc in the city and suburbs.

A .very high spring tide, driven by the southerly gale, backed up the Waihopai and Otepuni Rivers, flooding lowlying land. One house was completely surrounded by a sheet of water, the occupants being compelled to remain indoors. Two chains of ballast were washed from the Bluff railway line which runs parallel to the estuary and the service was broken for several hours, but has now been restored. The botanic gardens, beside the Otepuni River, were transformed into windswept lakes. The salt water which flooded the gardens and the nearby bowling green has destroyed years of work.

Wireless poles are down in all parts of the city and suburbs, gardens wrecked and even a few windows blown in. Neither the Maunggnui nor Waiana was able to sail today because of the fierceness of the gale. The wind is unabated tonight, and unless it decreases in the next few hours more damage is expected when the tide is again high at 6 o’clock this morning.