FIERCE GALE IN NORTH CANTERBURY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 65, 9 December 1938, Page 7

FIERCE GALE IN NORTH CANTERBURY

| Numerous Faults Caused In ' Telephone System TREES UPROOTED BY WIND By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, December 8. Extensive damage to power and telephone services in North Canterbury was done today by a north-westerly gale of exceptional severity. Numerous faults occurred in the telephone system in Christchurch, these being caused through wires crossing and limbs of trees becoming entangled in the wires. No serious damage was done.

The gale was most intense in North Canterbury, where lines and poles were broken and whole trees and branches were blown across (he roads. Breakdowns of electric supply and telephone services were reported from many districts, and linesmen were out working under most unpleasant conditions all day. Trees uprooted by the fierce wind fell across the wires at several places up to 20 miles north of the city. Though extensive, damage to private property was not serious. Wheat and oats crops escaped damage which might have been worse had the crops been more advanced. Little damage was also done in orchards, though in Loburn apples were shaken from trees in more exposed orchards. A brick parapet 3ft. high and 4ft. Gin. long and about 12ft. of woodwork were blown on to the roof of a two-story grocer’s shop in North Brighton. No one was injured. A number of poplar trees in North Brighton were also blown down.

When the big Road Safety Week banner, anchored to a heavy iron lamp bracket above the entrance to the municipal offices was caught by the gale, the lamp was torn from its base and crashed 25 feet into the centre of Manchester Street, bringing with it part of the balustrade. A warning that the lamp would fall was given by a picture theatre manager and a queue of children waiting to enter tiie Civic Theatre to attend a screening of a Safety Week film, was moved out of danger. In the botanic gardens and city reserves branches were blown from trees but little damage was done to plants. As is the practice during strong winds, the larger trees in the gardens were kept under observation by the staff in the interests of public safety.

ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT AFFECTED

Taranaki’s Experience

By Telegraph—Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, December 8.

The power supply was cut off in south Taranaki and telephone services from New Plymouth northward were disrupted by n violent electrical storm which passed over the province this morning, accompanied by torrential rain and wind of gale force. In Pa tea which is supplied by electricity from Hawera, emergency plants had to be brought into operation. Minor damage to electrical equipment was reported from all parts of the province, transformer fuses being blown, accompanied at times by loud reports and vivid flashes. Telephone subscribers were cut off and household electrical appliances affected. Streets were awash in towns during the height of the downpour and water entered several buildings in Otaki, the coastal area receiving the full force of the fierce westerly. No oilier serious damage was reported and the storm passed quickly. (Earlier messages on page 12.)