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Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24152, 11 January 1944, Page 4

UNUSUAL FEATURES YESTERDAY LITTLE DAMAGE REPORTED There were a number of unusual features about the south-west wind which swept Christchurch all day yesterday. A southerly gale developed about 1 a.m., and at times reached 56 miles an hour. About 4 a.m. the wind veered round to the north-west. From 8 a.m. until about 5 o'clock the wind blew steadily from south-south-west at a velocity of 30 miles an hour. Meteorologists remarked last evening that it was most unusual for a wind from that quarter to continue with so little deviation and at such a constant velocity. There were some gusts up to 40 miles an hour. Another unusual observation recorded was the remarkably low humidity for south-westerly weather. The humidity was shown as 42 per cent, compared with 73 the day before. Only 30 telephones were put out of order in Christchurch yesterday as the result of the strong wind, and no other damage was caused. All- except six of the telephones had been put in order before the afternoon. There are approximately 12,000 telephone subscribers in the Christchurch area. The usual causes of interruptions to the telephone service on a very windy day are trees blowing against the telegraph wires or the wires blowing together. Little damage in orchards was reported by growers. Most early crops have now been gathered and later fruits are yet too small to be caught by the wind. Some orchardists, however, said that the drying effect of the wind might retard some crops.