TORNADO AT WAIHI

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28231, 20 March 1957, Page 12

TORNADO AT WAIHI

Trees Ripped Up On Farms

(New Zealand Press Association) WAIHI, March 19.

A tornado struck a farm on the Waihi plains, midway between Waihi and Waihi beach at 10 o’clock last night. It did little damage on the first farm, but gained strength until it caused havoc on Mr Richard Mather’s farm three-quarters of a mile away.

Trees were snapped off and uprooted as the sphere of lightning zig-zagged through an avenue of pine trees. One 60ft tree was thrown 65 yards away. Others were broken off 10ft from the ground. Telephone lines were broken.

'liiis morning a tractor cleared the roads of the fallen trees to allow milk vans through, and the telephones were being repaired. There was heavy rain before the tornado, then a quiet period. When the lightning sphere appeared it was followed by a screaming sound. The whole affair was over in a minute, followed by a silence and a light rain.

The top of a chimney at another farm was knocked off and clothes on a drying line were ripped away. A fowlhouse on a farm was thrown on to a ledge, leaving the hens unhurt on the perches. No stock was injured.