SEVERE GALE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 March 1940, Page 7

SEVERE GALE

SWEPT BY WESTERLY WEATHER FIRES CAUSE SOME CONCERN. ONLY MINOR DAMAGE REPORTED A more than usually severe westerly gale swept the district around Masterton on Thursday afternoon and caused minor damage in several areas. The damage was confined to power and telephone lines and minor property damage, while log and grass fires caused some concern among settlers for a time. The gale seems to have been exceptionally severe in the Miki MikiMt Bruce area, where a fire on the properties of Messrs H. West and J. Campbell. Sent-.. necessitated settlers keeping a watchful eye but the outbreak did no damage beyond consuming a few logs and sweeping an area of pasture. In the Kaiparoro district the gale was the worst experienced for some time and caused minor damage to outbuildings and sheds, while Mr G. Hansen had a pig sty blown over.

Interruptions were caused to some rural telephone lines on account of trees being blown across the wires. Portion of a pine tree fell across the lines at Gladstone, near Bannockburn, and landed in the middle of the road, effectively breaking the wires and a large willow crashed across the telephone lines just beyond the Westmere turnoff on the Te Wharau Road, breaking communication with the Te Wharau district. Carrington subscribers were also cut off and more or less minor interruptions occurred to other rural lines at Miki Miki and elsewhere. All services were restored by 5 o’clock last night. The Wairarapa Power Board reports minor faults only. The big gale of four years ago disclosed any weak points in the system, which, in consequence. is now well able to stand a severe test. A large caravan, upside down, was seen on the Rimutaka Road yesterday, on the Wellington side of the Summit. It had apparently been overturned by the wind. BUSH AND SCRUB FIRE HOMESTEADS IN DANGER. (“Times-Age” Special.) Fanned by a fierce westerly gale on Thursday afternoon, a fire at the back of Carrington spread rapidly, with the result that homesteads in the Carrington district were in imminent danger of destruction. It was only' by strenuous efforts on the part of the settlers that houses were saved. At 4.30 o’clock a prolonged alarm was sounded on the Carterton fire siren and members of the brigade and others went out to the scene of the fire. It was found useless to take the Dennes pump or any of the brigade plant. The brigadesmen rendered valued assistance and with the help of many willing volunteers the destruction of house property was prevented. The fire started on a property on the hills on Wednesday. So far as can be ascertained, Mr W. Wilson had a shed burned down and the contents, which included implements, curt and hay, were destroyed. Mr B. E. Clark lost 18 cords of split firewood and fences.

Mr A. Dew had fences destroyed and also a stack of hay that was near the boundary of Mr Clark's property. Mr T. H. Wilson’s residence caught fire on several occasions and only by determined efforts on the part of willing workers was saved.

The homesteads of Messrs P. Rayner, J. Hobson and W. Taylor were all in danger.

The gale carried the sparks from bracken, brushwood and decaved logs across the hills and flats for miles, to Ten Creek and the vicinity of Waingawa. In these localities the fire was mainly confined to logs and dry trees. At night rain began to fall and cheeked the progress of the fire. Miles of fencing have been burned and winter grass feed has suffered considerably. No stock is reported lost.