GALE IN THE CITY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22344, 7 March 1938, Page 8

GALE IN THE CITY

LITTLE DAMAGE DONE BIGHT POLES BROUGHT DOW* AT ASHBURTON Little damage was done by the gale which blew in the city and district late on Saturday night and early yesterday morning. The wind, which began to blow strongly about 11 p.m., was followed by light rain. About 1 a.m. the wind reached gal« velocity, but it did not last long. A tree came down on to the power line at Glade avenue, near Stanmore road, at Avonside. but there was no other damage to the lines in the city area. The tram overhead line near the railway crossing in Fendalton road was fortunate in not having been broken by a bluegum branch which fell across it. Two holders were broken, and the line was brought down to within a few feet of the ground, but it did not snap under the weight of the branch. “The damage in the Waimairi district was very trifling,” said the relieving electrical engineer (Mr W. Butcher). “A few branches came down on the lines and broke pole fuses, but the service was soon restored.” Although no report was available last evening, it is understood that no damage was done to Public Works power lines in the district. Eight poles of the Ashburton Electric Power Board in coastal districts. Willowby, Riverside, and Sealield. were brought down by the strong wind.