Severe Gale In Far North

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29842, 7 June 1962, Page 12

Severe Gale In Far North

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. June 6. A fresh storm with winds gusting up to 80 miles an hour lashed Northland today, damaging homes, shops and shipping over a wide area. For most of the day winds averaged 40 miles an hour and brought heavy rain to some districts.

The storm developed rapidly and struck the north soon after noon.

At Rawene. half a house owned by Mrs A Tehana was blown away and the remainder badly damaged The Rawene sash and door factory mill was smothered with dirt -nd mill workers' cottages were threatened after a large slip The vehicular ferry owned by the Hokianga Ferry Company broke its moorings and ran aground when the gale struck Several of the company’s launches broke adrift and were scattered over the harbour. The Omana Maori School was isolated by flood waters and pupils arriving by bus were forced to return to their homes.

At Cape Brett winds reaching 75 knots lifted water from a rough sea and sprayed it 300 feet high over the cape. At Ahipara, near the southern end of Ninety-Mile Beach, mountainous seas this afternoon caused minor damage to seaside homes. There was some slight damage to telephone lines Verandas Off At Mangonui. verandas were torn eff two houses, a window’ was blown in at the police station and a 38-foot I fishing boat swept under the wharf Its cabin and mast

were wrecked snd abou £4OO damage done

The boat was towed to safety by the tug Otapiri, which had just come into port to escape the mountainous seas outside

Three fishing boats ran for shelter into Houhora Bay and lay there dragging their anchors until the wind changed, when they had trun the gauntlet of heavy seas at the harbour mouth to enter the harbour itself The far northern peninsula from Awanui north was without power from 445 to 8 om tonight. The main damage in Kaitaia was caused when a large plate glasa window in a hardware showroom blew in and another one recently installed after gale damage was buckled and chipped Many sheds were unroofed throughout the district, and scores of trees have been blown down

No Water Supply During the night, heavy rain again disrupted the Dargaville water supply Receptacles of all descriptions were brought into use th s morning to catch water flowing from roofs and downpipes to provide the first drinking water availab e since early yesterday afternoon. There is no indication when the supply will be restored