HAIL HAVOC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 306, 28 December 1939, Page 4

HAIL HAVOC.

POVERTY BAY FLATS.

ORCHARDISTS' LOSSES.

MISSILES 810 AS WALNUTS,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

GISBORNE, this day.

A violent hailstorm of 20 minutes' duration, which pelted down missiles a.* bi tf as walnuts, left n, trail of devastation in the four largest commercial orobards on the Poverty Bay flats, near Patutahi. The swathe cut by the'storm was narrow, hut the liavoe left in its path was complete. The whole season's work was ruined in 20 rninules stated «i leading orchardint surveying the damage by the hailstones at least an inch thick. "Out of my v'liole crop," stated nnotlie • "I have not lid worth of fruit left." Olio of the heaviest losers was Mr. .1. O. Hardy, who estimated that 100 per cent of his crops of stone, pip and hothouse fruit had been rtiiiutd, as well as his three glasshouses being completely smashed, less than 25 per ccnt of the glass remaining unbroken. The crops inside were ruined. Out of an expected 20,000 cases of fruit, lie said, lie would not secure Kiillicieut sound fruit to fill a bushel case. In addition to tho fact that his revenue would be absolutely nil from his orchard, Mr. Hardy said he would hi ve to pay strippers to remove the fruit. None of it would be sound enough for sale wheii mature, and if it was not removed the vitality required to bring it to a ripe condition would be taken unnecessarily from the trees. The largest commercial orchard in the district, that of tho late Mr. A. Brodie, was also seriously affected. This orchard has an area of 20 acres, mainly in apples, but including peaches and tomatoes, it is estimated that 00 per cent of the apple crop was damaged, while the tomatoes were stripped, but the full extent of the damage will not bo known for two or three days. Mr. O. Thodcy's orchard was "praecally cleaned out." His fruit included apples, pears, plums and peaches and tho hail did so much damage that the sides of the fruit were cut away in many inistanees. Mr. L. Scfton stated that not one apple in his orchard was left undamaged, whilo the stornr. wrought havoc among the tomatoes and pears. In addition, apricots. ready for picking, were destroyed, while cucumbers 4in long ware eplit open. At Ormond, wheTe the storm lasted aibout half nn hour, severe damage was done to some of the softer fruit. Mr. Wohivsiedler was unable to accu rately estimate the loss in his vinery, which varied according to variety, but in some varieties fully 50 per cent of the crop was badly damaged. Tho storm has increased the difficu! ties of the ryegrass seed harvest, aa well as being responsible (or the loss of much of the seed.