ON THE WEST COAST.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13710, 18 April 1910, Page 8

ON THE WEST COAST.

HEAVY GALES AND RAIN-

TREES, FENCES, SHEDS, AND HOUSES BLOWN DOWN.

(SPECIAL TO "TtlE PP.ESS.") GREYMOUTH, April 17. Tempestuous conditions prevailed on the West Coast from Thursday night till Friday night. The wind blew with hurricane force, accompanied by heavy rain and bitterly cold weather. The gale was felt throughout the length and breadth of tho West Coast, and played havoc with fences and sheds, which were blown down in ail directions, whilst* trees—many of them giants of the forest—were uprooted in a remarkable fashion. In the Grey Valley tho blow was terrific. A partly-erected twe-storoyed hotel at Blackball was completely demolished, whilst a similar fate befell a farmer's cottage at Totara Flat.

The telegraphic service was completely disorganised from early on Friday mornins till Saturday afternoon, extensive breaks between Reefton and Nelson isolating the West Coast from tho North, whilst the lives being down between Greymouth and Kumara, and between Kumara and Boaley, prevented communication with the rest of the South Island. This is the worst interruption that has been experienced on the West Coast for the last twenty-five years. Communication with Wellington was got on Saturday afternoon, and subsequently with Christchurch. Tho gale caused a tremendous sea akng the coast, with tho result that shipping movements are entirely at a standstill. As tho tuns and coal hoppers are all filled, tho various coal mines have had to cense operations temporarily. The passengers who left Christchurch on Thursday and Saturday morning, only reached Greymouth lust night, after a very rough trip.

WAIKARI. As it turned out, the effects ot the gale were not serious in this locality, but the velocity of tho wind was sufficient to cause uneasiness for the satety of several dwellings, which were threatened with danger for some hours. On Friday the rain fell in torrents for a time, and soon filled the ditches and crooks to tho brim.

ASHBURTON. The nor'-west galo continued to blow with considerable force in the Ashburton district throughout Friday night. It also blow pretty stiffly during Saturday, but there was a great change in the temperature, and instead of tlie weather being bitterly cold it was as warm as at mid-summer.