FULL GALE AT LYTTELTON

Evening Star, Issue 21723, 18 May 1934, Page 6

FULL GALE AT LYTTELTON

RAIN ON BANKS PENINSULA CITY POWER FAILURE CHRISTCHURCH. May 17. A south-westerly storm of extreme violence blew up at 5 o’clock this evening. At Lyttelton a gust blew the fore hatches off the Rangatira and landed them on the wharf. The wind pressure lifted the roof off the passengers’ shelter on the wharf perceptibly, and but for the shelter of the Bangafcira, which was berthed, the whole shed might have been blown into the water. 'The Harbour Board crane on the wharf, although clamped down, was blown some distance' along the lines and derailed. No one was injured, and little damage was clone. The storm seems to have done little damage in the city, but it disarranged the electric power and light services by blowing down the power poles and lines in the Cashmere district. In Christchurch the power was off for half an hour, and for more than two hours there was a power failure on Banks Peninsula. Heavy rain fell on the Peninsula, and the t creeks rose. With the downpour continuing as it is on tho Peninsula, there is a fear of some flood damage. DELUGE Qt RAIN SNOW FOLLOWS Christchurch experienced the full blast of the coastal storm this morning. Sleet, hail, rain, and snow fell in the city. Bursting on the city with force the south-west gale brought a deluge of rain at 5 o’clock yesterday. Fences, trees, and electric light wires were torn away. Later in the night, the wind again roared through the city, bringing occasional heavy hail showers. By morning it had died to a strong breeze, but within an hour of thc_ sun breaking through for a few minutes at 9 o’clock, heavy snow was falling on the hills, and by 11.30 a.m. dense clouds of snow were sweeping the city, one fall being heavy enough to coat the roofs of motor cars in two minutes. TEMPEST IN DUNEDIN DISTRICT INTENSE COLD AMD LIGHT SNOW Yesterday morning, hoping that the testimony of tho barometer and the forecast of meteorologists would not be realised, the optimists of Dunedin and its neighbourhood looked for a cessation of the rough weather. Tho wind moderated, and the sun shone occasionally. After lunch time, however, a raging gale arose from a little to the southof west; as tho afternoon advanced tbe wind gained tempestuous force, accompanied by severe rain and sleet squalls; and the ‘night brought accentuation of these conditions. It was the roughest experience of tbe sort for years, made the more distressing by the intense cold, the thermometer dropping to 37, or lOdeg lower than the mean temperature in Dunedin during the month of May. This morning the wind moderated, the clouds lifted, and the rain' was no more than a few sprinklings: but the portents were ominous, and no change seems likely to be assured till the north-east wind prevails. In the rain squalls the street channels were temporarily flooded; otherwise the effects of the storm were only such as are readily effaced.