The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1936. STORM-SWEPT ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1936, Page 6

The Auckland Star WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1936. STORM-SWEPT ISLAND.

For the cause that lacks assistance; For the xcrong that- needs resistance, For the future in the distance, ■ And the good that we can do.

In town and country the week-end storm has left a trail of widespread damage. Rarely > has Auckland experienced a storm of such s intensity and duration. Beginning on Saturday night, almost without warning, it continued for more than 24 hours, with only a brief abatement yesterday morning when the wind suddenly changed from the north-easterly to the opposite quarter, and increased to gale force. To roads, railways, ; power lines and telephone systems the damage 1 has been particularly heavy, and will involve the State and local authorities in costly repairs, and meanwhile detour routes and makeshift arrangements in transport and communication will have to serve in many districts. Besides this destruction there is the toll of wind and rain on private property — fallen trees, unroofed houses, battered crops and gardens, losses of livestock on the farms, fences washed away, yachts and launahes smashed to pieces, homes inundated and beach frontages littered with debris. Life was lost in three instances, and there were many narrow escapes. The worst experiences, of course, were those of people in exposed places and in low-lying areas, but few, even in the most sheltered districts, were effectively protected against the gale. Far beyond the reaches of the Auckland ' province the storm swept its destructive course; indeed, in the width of the path and i the distance covered it differed from any cyclonic disturbance experienced for many years. It also differed from the average nor'-easterly in its sudden onset. There was no official prediction on Saturday of a storm of unusual violence, yet a few of the weatherwise in Auckland knew of its approach a day previously. This shows an unfortunate gap in our meteorological information. It is most important in the summer that week-end forecasts should be up-to-date and should warn the public of approaching gales. Something more than the brief intimation that "easterlies, strong to gale," are to be expected is called for on such an occasion. The meteorological office keeps the public well-informed of weather tendencies on the Tasman side, but on the Pacific side information is meagre. This is a weakness which will have to be remedied in the near future; 'planes from America will require constant advice of conditions along the route. In the flooded districts the storm has been another reminder of the need of forests to protect farmlands. New Zealand is paying a heavy price to-day for the earlier slaughter of trees on its high country, and until much of the vanished forest is replaced the Dominion will continue to be subject to floods and droughts.