SERIOUS DISRUPTION

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 185, 4 May 1936, Page 10

SERIOUS DISRUPTION

Communication Widely Disturbed WORLD NEWS HELD UP Serious disruption of communication was caused by the storm. For example, according to a statement by tbe Postmaster-General, Hou. F. Jones, there were 400 telephones out of commission iu the Auckland province alone, aud there was much disturbance also at Napier, New Plymouth and Palmerston North. Conditions also were bad in the South Island, and Westport was isolated ou Saturday morning. Radio communication had to be brought iuto fairly extensive use until through service by telegraphs aud telephones were restored. Replying to a question as to the pos sibility of reinstating Wellington as a cable centre —at present all cables are received In Auckland and transmitted from there throughout the Dominion—the Minister said the Government was not contemplating any action in the matter. Originally the cable company had two services, one terminating ai Wellington and tbe other at Auckland. The company had been losing money on both, and decided to do away with the Wellington station and keep the newer one at Auckland in operation. To make any transfer would cost £200,000. and in view of the losses experienced by the company there was no possibility of that taking place. BITTERLY COLD Snow and Hail In Wairarapa SPORTS RESTRICTED Mastertoil, May 3. Bitterly cold weather and heavy rain were experienced throughout the Wairarapa on Saturday, and in some places, notably Featherston, there were heavy hail-showers. Snow fell at Te Wharau on Saturday morning, and a light coating was seen on the Tararuas. Old residents say that the weather has been colder during the last few days than they have ever known it to be. Fortunately, however, the rain did not last long enough to cause more than physical discomfort. Throughout the week the weather has been very cold, and on Thursday the rain set in. It was not until Saturday, however, that the full effect was felt, for on that day it literally poured, and the strong cold southerly wind and intermittent hail-storms added to the discomfort of those who had occasion to be about the streets. Hardy Duck Shooters. Sporting activities were necessarily restricted. The Wairarapa Rugby Union’s season was to have opened with a nine-a-side tournament, but it had to be postponed. Hockey and Soecer matches were called off also. The members of the Masterton Harrier Club, however, did not allow the rain to do them out of their fun, for 15 harriers participated in a short run. Even more brave than the harriers, who. after all, could keep on running to keep themselves warm, were the duckshooters, who even on Saturday were enjoying their sport on the lake. These sportsmen, who look forward to the first of May, have not been treated kindly this year, because from that day until Saturday they have been shooting under exceedingly trying conditions. Nevertheless, one man, from Carterton, was rewarded, for he returned from the lake on Saturday with a bag of 50 duck. The bad weather eased off early this morning, and for the rest of the day the sun was shining from a cloudless sky. DUNEDIN IN DARKNESS Lightning Affects Power Supply By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, May 3. With a high southerly wind bringing heavy hailstorms and sleet, and the temperature hovering in the vicinity of 40 degrees, Dunedin had its first real experience of winter ou Saturday, aud although little actual damage is reported. conditions could hardly have been less pleasant than they were. Tne barometer commenced to fali sharply on Friday evening, the reading at 11 o'clock being 28.56 in. and the strong south-west wind which sprang up soon after dark increased in violence as tbe night wore on. and brought heavy rain. Although tlie gale abated somewhat on Saturday morning, it was still very gusty and bitterly cold, and intermittent hail showers persisted throughout the day. The storm had blown itself out. by midnight.ami the weather today was more pleasant, although the wind was still fresh. The gale reached a climax at 7 o'clock last evening when a vivid flash of lightning followed by a shattering thunderclap caused an interruption in the electric lighting system and created some alarm in the city. The lightning. which appeared to be in the nature of a fire ball, and consisted of a single flash, damaged two switches, with tlie result, that the three main lines into the city were affected. Houses and picture theatres were plunged in darkness, and the faults were not finally rectified until about 9 o’clock. Film patrons were forced to sit in the dark until the lights went on. and community sings were held to while away the time. The J. Williamson company playing tlie Savoy operas had an unenviable experience, as owing Io the late arrival of the Wahine from Wellington the express from Chi’istchni’i-h was delayed by several hours and the company did not arrive in Dunedin until 7 20. Tbe lights in (lie theatre were then out-, ami it was not until about 9 o'clock that the opera was finally commenced, motor-cars being run on to the wings and tlie headlights turned on to give the stage its only illumin.tt.ion. While these emergency measures were being taken several women members of the company kept up the spirits of everybody by conducting a community sing. Wireless poles and fences suffered somewhat during the gale, and gardens in and about the city were badly blown about, but this appears to be about the extent of the damage suffered.

Central Otago also experienced win try weather on Saturday, wit]) fall* of snow of varying depths There were two inches of snow rm Hie Pigroot and greater depths at Clyde. Roxburgh and Cromwell, while at Queenstown nearly five inches fell