HURRICANE FORCE REACHED

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21284, 2 October 1934, Page 12

HURRICANE FORCE REACHED

TRAIL OF DEVASTATION LEFT MASTLUTON AN!> CAKTiJnON r,ATTi:i:i:i> ~.,ir.i* a.,s<„ lAii'.s -if.;.!■:..!: >.-.;.' WELLINGTON. October 1. Seriously battered by the worst gale wkhin living memory, a wiele expanse of the central portion of the Wairarapa district is the scene to-day of much desolation and damage, the actual extent of which cannot at present be estimated. At times the wind raged with hurricane force, icaving a track of d:.vasla'ie,!i. Masterton and CdrtciiO'i s..ein to have received the fa JI Hiry of the

'visitation: but complete dislocation of 'communication by boih telephone and j telegraph has made it diliienlt toglcrn much accurate information. The wind ' cached gale lorcc ! iin the early hours of this morni ing. anil gradually increased in ■velocity, reaching the climax of its i fury between 8 and 10 o'clock, dur- ! ing which period much serious dam- ! age was done. The position was very ! much aggravated by heavy driving j rain. When the storm was at hs i height, if was unsafe to venture « ut ' of doors, tor fear of being injured by < living gta.-ss. corrugated iron, woodwork, and oMter wreckage. There are comparatively few house.-. , in the town of Masterton not affected. ', In many cases dwellings were un- ' roofed, and the heavy rain damaged the furniture badly. Garag.s and other i outbuildings were in some eases lifted I bodily into the air and smashed to matchwood. Fence- were levelled in all par.a of the town, and in Omen ■ street, the main -hopping area, plate gias- widows were blown in in several shops, and signboards and hoardings have been dislodged. Business in Masterton was practically at ; a standstill to-day. Jjxtent of the Damage Although it is at prcsen' impossible , to ascertain the extent of the damage. i many considered it greater than the damage caused by the earthquake on March o. and will run into thousands of pounds. With telephone and electric power lines down in all parts of the town and district, the linesmen were faced with a gigantic task. It will be a day ! or two before the electric power is : reconnected in some ciuartcrs. and in • consequence early this afternoon i candles were unprocurable in the j town. The railway service was interrupted ; in both northerly and southerly dirccI tions. owing to trees falling across the : track. At the Wai.igawa siding a row of trucks was capsized by the gale. A train which Lit Ma. terton at 7.40 , o'clock this morning got only as far as ; Clareville. and was later taken back under great difficulty. Sever: 1 carriages gave the aupearanee of having been under machine-gun tire, many windows being broken. A Desolate The southern portion of the Wairaiapa Valley presents a desolate spectacle t0... ay. The town of Koathcrslon escaped serious damage, and only a few wrecked outbuildings and flooded highways remind one of th. storm: but the surrounding diarict.-: have suffered badly. At 3 o'clock this afternoon portions of the mam Highway were 1 under a tool of water for many chains, while the road to Martinborough was impassable. Greytown suffered badly. The main street is a trail of ruin. Fallen chim- ' neys. torn root's, and overturned out- ■ buildings give the place a forlorn appcarai.ee. The iM-athcraci. telephone exchange ' cannot get into touch with any of the outback district, .-o the extent of the damage beyond Pirinea is- unknown. but it is certain to have been fairly ; severe.