WILD STORMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 194, 18 August 1931, Page 7

WILD STORMS.

BRITAIN'S SUMMER.

Widespread Havoc by Hail, Rain And Gales.

TRAIL OF DEATH AND DAMAGE.

(British Official Wirelees.)

(Received 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, August 17,

Stormy weather was again experienced along the south coast to-day, with high winds and the roughest summer seas for many years. It is reported that three lives were lost in boating accidents off the Isle of Wight. A bungalow village, which has grown up on the shingle beach near Winchelsea, the old Cinque port, has been cut off by the waves, which threaten to undermine the foundations of the buildings. Widespread hailstorms and torrential rain continue. The gale precluded practice by pilots for the Schneider Cup race. Hailstones as large as golf balls pierced motor hoods, killed poultry and windows in East Anglia. The etorms did enormous damage to crops throughout the country. It was the E7th wet week-end in 1931. Many Fatalities. A trail of death and damage was left by the etorm, which was the worst August gale in 20 years. Seven campers of the Isle of Wight, returning to Portsmouth, tossed up for five places in a rowing boat, which was afterwards overwhelmed in the heavy seas. Three were drowned. A child was ewept off the Margate beach by a huge wave. Henry Robinson and Henry Aldridge, the latter a wellknown and popular Labour worker and a close friend of Mr. George Lansbury, eJommissioner of Works, gallantly rushed in to save the child but both were drowned. Rising without warning after torrential rains the Whitadder stream swept over a dam near Hutton, Berwickshire, on which eight labourers were working. Four of them, all Irishmen, including two brothers, were carried off and drowned. A father and his twin daughters were taking refuge in the ancient Finsthwaite Tower, when it was struck by lightning. Oue daughter was killed and the others were knocked insensible. A nurse and a 14-year-old boy were drowned in the ewollen stream at Haddington, where 40 families are homeless owing to floods.

The-crew of the yacht Maitenes 11., ■Which was competing in the Fastnet Cup race from Cowes to Plymouth, abandoned the vessel after Colonel Hudson had been washed overboard and drowned. A steam trawler picked up the eurvivors. •

Yachts are still limping in from the Fastnet race. Dorade was declared, the winner.