SEVERE STORM

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 3, 4 July 1938, Page 10

SEVERE STORM

TARANAKI LASHED

RAIN, HAIL, AND SNOW

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Evening Post.")

NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day,

With hail and rain driven by an unusually strong north-west to westerly wind that reached terrific force in squally gusts, Taranaki was lashed throughout Saturday night and yesterday. Intermittent thunderstorms were also experienced. Despite the force of the gale no damage of consequence was reported, although there were signs throughout the countryside of the battering to which it had been subjected.

Mountairibus seas crashed on to the! coast, and at the port of New Plymouth the breakwater received a severe pounding. It was rumoured early iri the day that eight huge concrete blocks had been washed from the extension, but investigation was not possible. A protecting apron of blocks appeared to have sunk, but that was not unexpected in a storm of such severity. Ships strained at their moorings at the wharves, and the sea lapped the foot of the pavilion.

At Ngamotu. falls of earth occurred from cliffs near the centre of the town, and residents as they sat in their houses could feel the crash of waves at the foot of the cliffs. In all parts of the town gardens were seriously

Hailstones as big as marbles, some an inch and a half long, fell in the Okato district on Saturday afternoon.

The storm, which was one of the severest experienced in the district, lasted a considerable time, but through it all 30 footballers, a referee, and two line umpires carried on with the second spell of a sub-union representative match. Snow, sleet, hail, rain, and thunder storms were experienced at Mount Egmont. So heavy were the falls of hail and sleet at North Egmont that the depth of ice about the hostel was about two inches for a considerable time.

Several interruptions to the electrical supply were experienced at Awakino, and the full effect of the storm was felt both there and at Mokau. Roads were open, although slips had fallen on Mount Messenger. With heavy seas backing them up, tidal rivers in the district were high, but flooding was not expected.