Big winds hit Darfield

Press, 26 February 1980, Page 1

Big winds hit Darfield

Nor’westerly winds of more than 55 knots swept over inland Canterbury yesterday, stripping trees and damaging crops and farm buildings. The wife of one farmer near Darfield described the wind as “almost as bad as the big one in 1975.’’ “We lost one silo, and

more trees than in 1975. There were so many trees down that my husband could hardly get up the drive when he got home,” she said. Darfield and the surrounding farmlands were without power for more than two hours after the wind brought down lines at 3.20 p.m.

Mr A. L. Mulholland, of Darfield, said he was “not game to look at the barley” after the nor’ wester had died down at nightfall. “Any barley crops with any length in them would be severely damaged, ” said Mr Mulholland. Other farmers in inland Canterbury and Mid-

Canterbury reported damage to farm buildings, silos and wheat crops. The meteorological office at Christchurch Airport recorded a wind speed of 49 knots at 5.50 p.m., but no damage was reported in the city. Burkes Pass lashed, Page 3.