DAMAGE BY HIGH WIND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1939, Page 4

DAMAGE BY HIGH WIND

POWER AND TELEPHONE LINES SUFFER. ROOF BLOWN OFF COW SHED. A high wind, at times reaching gale force, did considerable damage to power and telephone wires in the South Wairarapa district on Saturday night and early on'Sunday morning. Power lines were damaged practically throughout the Wairarapa but repair men worked all yesterday and it was hoped to have all the services restored by 1 p.m. today. Several areas were without power for some time as the result of the services being jiff off by falling branches of trees and the high wind. At Matarawa a length of power lines was brought down by the roof of a milking shed, which was blown for a considerable distance. This was the second time that the roof of a shed has been blown across power lines in that vicinity. . Fruit trees and gardens suffered extensively, while branches of trees strewn alongside roads supplied evidence of the force of the wind. In Masterton the wind, though strong, lacked the'■ velocity felt further down the valley, where heavy rain also fell at times. Wairarapa motorists returning late from engagements in Wellington had an unenviable time in the vicinity of Featherston. Heavy cars at times were forced to proceed in low gear, while showers of sparks from grass fires and occasional torn branches of trees were sources of potential danger. When nearing the Tauherenikau bridge one party of Masterton motorists was informed that power lines were down across the road and had almost brought t.wo motor cyclists to grief. Acting on advice the party made a detour that cost them almost an hour's extra travelling. Mr H. B. Keenan, Power Board engineer, stated today that one of his service men was notified between 1.30 a.m. and 2 a.m. on Sunday that power lines were across the road at Tauherenikau. A.S the power was still in the lines he withdrew the switch and proceeded to Tauherenikau where he found that it was Post and Telegraph lines and not power lines that were across the road. The power switch was then replaced. Wairarapa telephone services were also interrupted, particularly in the Gladstone and Longbush districts, where lines came down under the force of flying tree branches. Generally speaking, however, subscribers' linos were not greatly affected.. An extensive gorse and grass fire between Greytown and Featherston on Friday night burnt the lower arm of the cross-bars carrying the telephone lines, which were put out of commission. Linesmen worked throughout yesterday and practically all the faults have now been repaired. The toll service was not greatly interfered with.