IN OTHER DISTRICTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 9

IN OTHER DISTRICTS.

MINOR DAMAGE GENERAL. WINDOWS BLOWN IN. Hastings.—High winds, which were probably the tail-end of the storm experienced in other parts of New Zealand, swept Hastings and Napier during Saturday. At times 011 Saturday the wind blew with the force of a gale, but 110 damage of any appreciable kind was caused. The wind was spasmodic in force and direction. Temperatures were lo\y, but yesterday morning broke clear and fine, with bright sunshine from an almost cloudless sky.

Masterton. —Although a fierce southerly storm raged in the Wairarapa 011 Saturday 110 serious damage resulted. Trees were uprooted in the main street of Grey town, and several windows were blown-in in Masterton residences.

Wanganui.—Heralded by barometer readings at the lowest level for 20 years, a strong south-west gale, accompanied by henvj" rain and hail, swept the Wanganui district 011 Friday night and continued with varying force throughout Saturday. During the early hours of the morning minor damage to property occurred, some windows being blown in and fences levelled. Sandbags were placed on the roof of a wool store at Castlecliff to prevent serious damage. There wfis no major electric power disruption, although several power poles were blown down on a branch line near Fordell. Telegraphic communication with outside districts was interrupted, but was restored by 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Timara. —Heavy southerly squalls swept Timaru in the early hours of Saturday morning, but the wind abated during the day. No damage is reported. The Canadian Challenger, from Dunedin, reached the roadstead at 3 a.m. on Saturday, but the master decided it was dangerous to attempt to enter the harbour and rode out the storm at sea until this morning. The coastal steamer Karu reported heavy squalls three miles off on Saturday night, but learning that there was little wind in the harbour, proceeded to port and berthed safely.

Invercargill.—Only minor damage was caused by f'ie south-westerly storm which swept Invercargill on Friday afternoon and Saturday. It had moderated sufficiently on Saturday to enable football matches to 'be played, but hockey fixtures were cancelled. In the country districts some power and telephone lines were brought down and trees were blown over. The- power supply was interrupted in Gladstone suburb for two hours on Friday night, when the wind was r,t its worst.

Nelson. —As is almost invariably the case, the high mountainous country protected Nelson from Saturday's storm. Before daylight a few strong gusts of wind swept over and caused banging doors and rattling windows, but they died away within a few minutes. During the day a southerly wind blew cold from the snow-capped ranges, but there was bright sunshine for the Nelson races. New Plymouth.—Storm damage in individual cases was not great, but in the aggregate must be considerable. Telegraph and telephone lines were down in several places in central arid north Taranaki, trees were uprooted, and in several cases iron was blown off roofs of houses., A huge tree was blown across the road to the North Egmont mountain house, blocking access for several hours. The mountain was covered with a heavy mantle of snow, and on Saturday heavy hail showers sropt the lowlands of the province.