SEVERE GALE AND LIGHTNING STORM.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3896, 17 January 1878, Page 2

SEVERE GALE AND LIGHTNING STORM.

A severe gale of wind set in from the north-west on Tuesday night, and continued during Wednesday, threatening to do damage in the farming districts, but fortunately the larger proportion of the crops was not ripe enough to allow the grain to be easily shaken. Some, however, were laid by the rain about five o'clock. Although the wind blew with terrific force for some hours after midnight, no serious injury to life or property has been reported. The weather at the Bealey was boisterous. The following telegram was received by the Mayor of Kaiapoi at 9.50 a.m. on Wednesday:—"Very heavy flood here. Over 3J inches rain felL Raining heavily." All through the night the flashes of lightning were frequent as well as intensely vivid. Speculations were rife aa to whether the Waimakariri towards Kaiapoi would be affected and, if so, as to how the railway line would escape without serious damage. As the last train went past in the evening the river in the south branch was coming down in heavy volume, and the passengers by the last up train remarked the good time kept by the railway officials in sending the train forward in time to reach the Christchurch side of Chainey's before the water had time to get across. When crossing the South Waimakariri Bridge the current was noticed te be coming down with great velocity. Owing to the lighter rails and plenty of engines and rolling stock at both sides of the expected breach the delay to traffic, in case of matters coming to the worst, is expected to be not so protracted as on previous occasions. CHBISTCHTJRCH. The gale was the severest that has been experienced in Christchurch for many years. It commenced about 1 a.m., and seemed to concentrate its forces about 2 o'clock, when for about twenty minutes it blew a perfect hurricane. Crashes of broken glass were heard at intervals, and large branches of trees were flying about in all directions. About this hour a zirlc and wooden shed in Messrs Twentyman and Cousin's yard, Cashel street, was blown clean over the fence to the opposite side of the street, landing on the verandah of Mr Sinstead, stationer, where it did considerable damage. The gable end of Mr Bamford'a office in Gloucester street was blown down, Messrs Candy and Dewsbury's sign-board was blown down and broken, and two large panes in the Palace Hotel, and some in Mr Fnhrmann's furniture warehouse were blown in. Fences were laid low in many places, and when daylight set in the footpaths in a few of the streets presented rather a wrecked appearance with the branches lying across them. These were removed during the day by the Corporation men. The gale began to scjbside a little before half-past two, and at three o'clock it was nearly calm. There were fitful gusts at intervals up to five o'clock, and it blew smartly during the day. BANOIOBA. This township was visited by the gale and rainstorm in their full force. Most of the gardens in the vicinity have suffered considerably through the unripe fruit being blown off, and the branches of trees being broken. Mr W. Atkinson had also the misfortune to lose one of his draught homes, which was killed by lightning during the night. ASHBURTON. Since Monday last a strong nor'-wester has been blowing in this district, and about 1 a.m. on Wednesday it culminated in a regular hurricane, accompanied by heavy rain and lightning. Such a gale has never been experienced in Ashburton before. The damage done to house property is trifling, some houses being shifted on the piles, and a few outbo usee blown down; hut what may have

occurred to the crops cannot be estimated v«* The oaU, which are ripe or nearly , 0 , nj__ have suffered severely. About 10 o'clock Tuesday night the wind died away tor a fc« minutes, after whioh it blew fresh from the S.E. for a short time, and afterwards chonned round again to the N.W., from whioh Mfa* it blew dl night, being at its height about i a,m. On Wednesday, at 3 p.m., it was stai blowing very strongly from north-west. THB BANBBS. The gale was felt with extreme severity in the more elevated situations on the dmdin.. range. The Hokitika coach arrived at the Casa about the usual hour on Tuesday evenmg, having had rain and wind all day on the western side of the range, and both the Beale* and Waimakariri were then rising. Half-pejjfc" 4 o'clock on Wednesday morning „ t__, ft usual hour for the coaches being despatched from the Cass, but with wind, rain, and lightning, so wild was the storm at that hour, that man or horse could not face it, and Mr Oassidy postponed his starting for Christchurch till 9 o'clock. By this time the gale had somewhat abated, and he was able to reach Sheffield in sufficient time for the last train to town. The coach bound for Hokitika was still further detained, as it was futile to start in the face of such a gale, and with the rivers at tho height which they must have attained by midday. Inspector Broham waa a passenger by that coach as far as the Bealey and the Van. Archdeacon Harper and the Rev. Mr Douglas for Kumara and Greymouth.