DAMAGE BY GALE

Evening Star, Issue 25577, 1 September 1945, Page 6

DAMAGE BY GALE

TELEGRAPHIC SERVICES INTERRUPTED TREES BREAK LINES The heavy gale which blew last night caused a dislocation of the telegraphic service from the north to Dunedin to-day, and the emergency radio service which was brought into use during the recent break, caused by snow, had again to be utilised. The chief trouble appeared to be north of Ashburton, but' its extent is not yet known. The emergency radio channel was brought into use for urgent messages between Canterbury and l>unedin. In the local district an interruption was caused before midnight last night through a tree f alling_ across the wires near Maheno. Repairs wero carried out there this morning, and a temporary circuit was brought into use. At Riverside, in the Outram area, a tree which fell across the telegraphic lines also caused a breakdown in the service, but this was repaired by lO.iiU this morning. Though evidently «dt as severe as in the north, the gale which blew in Dunedin during the night'was a very strong one, and windows and anything not securely fixed outside rattled "onsiderably. In gardens in exposed positions spring flowers and shrubs suffered from the effect of the wind, but generally there was no damage of an extensive nature. A light sprinkling of snow covereu the »top of Mount Cargill and Flagstaff this morning. Two smouldering gorse fires on the outskirts of the city were fanned up to a'dangerous state by the gale last night and the City Fire Brigade had to be called out to.subdue them. About midnight it was called to Taieri road and an hour later it answered a second call to Bridge street.