DAMAGE BY STORM

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1942, Page 9

DAMAGE BY STORM

WAITARA WHARF SUFFERS

(P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Feb. 20. Torrential rain this morning caused serious damage to the Waitara wharf an.l minor flooding in various parts of the town. In three hours, from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m., the rainfall was 4.4 inches. The earthwork at the back of the wharf where the railway line runs has subsided three feet for a distance of

■•- ifO feet and the centre portion of the wharf was pushed: out towards the - river about a foot. The railway line has been left suspended. The estimated cost of repairs is £3000. Water entered a shop in the main street and caused damage to stock. The rain was preceded and accompanied by a fierce electrical -storm, which did damage also in other parts of North Taranaki. The top of a chimney in the showgrounds building at New Plymouth was taken off when struck by lightning, and haystacks on farms at Bell Block were set ..alight ''""■an'cl^eßroyed;" A-iarfe pine; trek was '" split down the centre. A pedigree bull arid cow owned by Mr. F. Mace were killed by lightning on his farm at Hui- ; rangi. •.: ~\ Telegraph circuits in the New Plymouth area were thrown out of commission and some telephone lines were affected.