Hailstones Over Half-Inch in Diameter.

Franklin Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 126, 2 November 1934, Page 5

Hailstones Over Half-Inch in Diameter.

CLOUDBURST AT BOMBAY. WORST STORM IN HISTORY. CROPS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. Bombay and district was the centre •of a thunderstorm ox unusual severity on Wednesday afternoon. Working \up along the south of the Waikato river shortly after mid-day, the storm then moved in a north-easterly direction, and for over an hour its full force was felt in the Bombay district. Hail- , stones as large as birds’ eggs made a deafening noise as they fell on the corrugated iron roofs. In the opinion of one old settler it was the severest storm in living memory. The first appearance of a thunder.storm was the inky-black sky to the south. Vivid flashes of lightning, -accompanied by fork lightning, became more frequent as the storm centre moved towards eastern Franklin. The continuous peals of thunder rent the heavens. A? the wind moved around to various points of the compass the temperature fell quickly, and it appeared as though Pukekohe would also experience the storm. As it was, a little rain and some light hail fell in •the town. Almost without warning the big clouds appeared to burst and hail and rain fell as though some invisible overhead river had broken its banks. A few minutes. sufficed to cause a flood in the whole district, but heavy rain -and hail pelted 1 down for upwards of -an hour, after which the sun broke through light clouds in the western ■ r vsky to shine on the east, the mow •snow-white paddocks with their globules of ice, glistening like polished diamonds scattered in the fields. Hailstones measured by Mr J. By•gate, woodwork instructor at St. Stephen’s school, were five-eighths of an inch in diameter, while hailstones brought to Pukekohe on a P. and T. waggon at five o’clock, measured over ■half an inch They were solid blocks of ice. Thus some idea of the intensity of the storm can be guaged. IVlany potato crops it is reported, suffered extensive damage, the tops being battered down by the heavy rain and hail. Fruit trees at St. Stephen’s school were stripped of their leaves and fruit in the forming stage. The headmaster, Mr W. C. Morris, reports that one of the school’s front paddocks was covered with a layer of soil washed down .from higher levels, while flats were inundated. Vegetable and •flower plots also suffered. In at least two instances where road culverts were inadequate to carry the *abn£«nal volume of storm water, 'theire' overflowed and deposited silt and -debris on two lawns, causing extensive damage to beautiful flower garhens. A clay filling on the Great South Road in which roadmen were ‘ employed was washed away and the "'Ted clay deposited on a front lawn. One portion of the Bombay devia- ' tion for a distance of about 10 yards was covered with ice to a depth of about five inches, while hail was present in a number of paddocks in the •evening. , V

IN OTHER PLACES. While lightning flashes 1 were seen "and thunder crashed overhead at Pukekohe, only a light fall of rain was -experienced. Puni also saw the lightning and heard the' - thunder but es- > caped the hail and rain. Mercer, apparently, was in the storm-line, and was less fortunate than Pukekohe. The downpour was exceptionally heavy and the deafening roar on the corrug- ' ate'd iron roof of the school,' compelled the suspension of lessons for a time. Gardens were washed- away and fruit trees damaged. Tuakau did not escape the storm and although "lightning, thunder, hail and rain were •experienced, no damage is reported.

TRANSFORMERS FUSED. Lightning caused the fusing of transformers at Onewhero, Tuakau, 'Puhi, Hunua and Ararimu, but energetic power board faultsmen had the •service restored in time 'for milking. STRUCK by lightning. t Mr G. Gilmour of Dominion road, Tuakau, was struck by lightning during Wednesday’s severe thunderstorm. At the time Mr Gilmour was discing a paddock but as rain fell he left his horses and Sheltered under some pine trees. There he was struck and thrown violently to'the ground but was later able to rise and make his way home, where'it was discovered he was suffering from bruises down one side body. Mr Gilmour then retired to bed. Frightened by a sudden clap of thunder the horses bolted and after careering around the paddock a few times came to rest with the discs smashed to pieces. ...