HIGH WINDS AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26123, 27 May 1950, Page 6

HIGH WINDS AT ASHBURTON

WIDESPREAD MINOR DAMAGE Widespread damage to power and telephone lines and small buildings was caused by a north-west wind which reached gale force in Mid-Can-terbury in the e. rly hours of yesterday morning. The maximum velocity at Ashburton was 63 miles an hour, but further inland it was more. The Ashb has reported lines damaged and services interrupted at Scafield, Wakanui. Winchmorc. Grecnstreet. Staveley, Mount Somers. Carew, and An-ma. With the aid of nine vehicles fitted with two-way radios, the board’s staff hoped to have all repairs made by today. The wind blew down three electric power poles on the main highway through Ashburton, throe at Mount Somers, and one at Klondyke. Falling trees in various parts of the board’s district caused further damage to pow er lines. Hermitage Isolated Torrential rain has been falling in the catchment areas of Lakes Chau. Tekapo, and Pukaki, and a heavy fall in the Mount Cook area has temporarily isolated the Hermitage. Rain began to fail about 6 p.m. on Thursday, and at dusk yesterday the Hermitage had recorded 16 inches. Of that total. 11.5 inches fell up to 9 a.m. yesterday. It is impossible for the Hermitage staff to move 100 yards from ihe hotel, because every creek has become a river, running bank to bank. The Public Works Department has closed the road to the Hermitage, as it is not negotiable above Lake Pukaki. Twins -e< between the Hermitage and Glentannrr station. )'■ now a river. The Eangitr'ia river is running bank to bank and likely to cause serious damage to property. Late last evening the rain was easing off slightly.