THE STORM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 75, 31 March 1910, Page 3

THE STORM.

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE IN TARANAKI. [BY fELEBRAPH— PRKSS ASSOCIATION.] NEW PLYMOUTH, 30th March. The storm has been raging with cy.clonic fury, earning destruction in all .directions. Very Hu4o rain has fallen, but the hurricane-like blasts have-reach-ed a velocity never hitherto experienced on this coast. At the time of telegraphing (8 p.m.) the gslp shows no »i*n of abatement. Very considerable damage has been done, fences, st&bles, chimneys, rcrandahs, trees, etc., being down in all directions. There have been many narrow escapes from flying iron and timber, but no casualties nave been reported. A largo two-storied showroom in Devon-street, just vacated, collapsed in a mass of ruins. All kinds of reports are current of the overturning of buildings, coaches, and traps in outlying districts, which it is impossible to verify, but everything points to tho damage being considerable. This morning the Taranaki Petroieutn Company's No. 4 derrkflc .coH^psecT During the afternoon report* reached town that No. 3 was also a victim to the cyclone's fnry, while the >iew Zealand Standard Oil Company "« Vogeltown derrick is also gone. Falling trees in town disorganised several sections of telephone wires, while the electric lighting was also out of gear. In some localities there is scarcely any property not affected to some extent, and the aggregate damage must be fairly considerable. Shipping is not venturing out of port to-uignt. WAN6ANUI'S EXPERIENCE. WANGANUI, 30th March. In common with most other places m the North Island, Wanganui has experienced a cold south-easterly gale today, but it has evidently not been nearly so severe here as in some parts, and no 'damage has been recorded. It is ttill raining and blowing hard. AT BLENHEIM. BLENHEIM, 30th March. A gale of some force was experienced in this district to-day and this evening, but beyond smashing of trees httle damage ie reported. FLOODS FEARED AT GISBORNE. GISBORNE, 30th March. Heavy rain has been falling continuously since Monday afternoon. At present there is no prospect of cessation. AH the rivers are rising rapidly, and there is every prospect of a disastrous flood similar to that of four years ago. Already dead stock are floating down the rivers, and Hundreds of acre* are under water. The Monowai is sheltering. The evening train \. r as> blocked at Ormond, eleven miles out, by a big washout on the line. The settlers ars having a most unxiont time, and are removing stock to tho higher levels. The coach service is entirely suspended.