VIOLENT STORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 3

VIOLENT STORM.

WAIKATO WHIRLWIND. CAMBRIDGE VISITATION. HEAVY DAMAGE AT KAKAPIKO (From Our Own Correspondent.) CAMBRIDGE, Sunday. Tin; prolonged drought was suddenly interrupted yesterday afternoon by a thunderstorm which swept over the Cambridge district. There was also a heavy downpour of rain lasting- about an hour. At Pukeroro .3">in of rain wan recorded, and the fall was a little heavier in the borough. The thunderstorm came from an easterly direction, and associated with it in the Karapiro district, about five miles from the borough, was an extraordinary visitation in the shape of a whirlwind, which did extensive damage: along ;i narrow track through this district. Properties in the direct line of the whirlwind were those of Messrs. T. A. Frost, \\". J5. Brewer. J. Keeloy, J. Jlontgomerie and 10. 11. Clrayburn. On each of these Farms trees were blown down, iron was lifted oil haystacks and blown about; in one instance a sheet of iron wa.s lorn oil' and deposited a ijuurtcr of :i mile away. At Ali , . Frost's farm trees were blown down over an outbuilding, narrowly missing the residence; also across u power service line. On Mr. Brewer's farm a tank was lifted off its stand. The visitation was an extraordinarily Midden one, and associated with it was n regular cloudburst. Haystacks were badly buttered over a considerable area. The rainfall was siiflicient to cause nil outdo..r sports to be declared oil , for the afternoon. The rain helped to freshen the countryside, but its duration was all too short and it. will not have any great beneficial effect. To-day the

fkiea are clear iiguiii, and tlie tcunicraturo i* high.

Nothing but a downpour of from 12 ( " -' hours will meet the general drought situation.