HAILSTORM AT FOX GLACIER

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27861, 9 January 1956, Page 3

HAILSTORM AT FOX GLACIER

WINDOWS BROKEN AND GARDENS SLASHED

Many windows were broken in the Fox Glacier Hotel and other buildings at Weheka by a violent hailstorm on Thursday evening. Continuous and vivid lightning accompanied the storm, one of the worst ever known in the district.

Gardens were slashed by hailstones up to an inch in diameter during the half an hour at which the storm was at its height. About a dozen windows were broken in the hotel alone. Residents and tourists spent a sleepless night, but noone was injured. Two dogs at the hotel broke their chains, rushed terrified into the building, and refused to leave until morning. As a result of storm damage the only traffic on Friday was from the Fox glacier northwards. A bridge over Dry creek collapsed after trie heavy rain which fell throughout South Westland, and a slip occurred on the highway at Waikukupa. The bus from the Fox glacier was more than three hours late in reaching Hokitika last evening. A Railways Road Services bus on tour was the last vehicle over the Dry creek bridge going south, but by the time it returned in the afternoon damaged girders had been placed and temporary repairs made. Hokitika did not suffer from the storm, which apparently moved north along the ranges.