CANTERBURY HAIL STORM

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 January 1934, Page 7

CANTERBURY HAIL STORM

WORST FOR 30 YEARS CROPS GREATLY DAMAGED [PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, January 5. A severe thunderstorm, with, vivid lightning, rain, and in some districts devastating hail, passed over Canterbury this evening. In the city, lightning struck the tower of the old 3YA radio station, now 3YL, but. no damage was done, though the staff were much alarmed. A poplar tree on the Avon, bank was struck, and large chips two feet long were torn from the trunk. No one was passing, and the tree was not wholly blasted. Damage was done to the power lines in the country, but none was serious, and in the city telephone lines were damaged by the blowing of the fuses. The hail did very serious damage in the country, breaking glass and stripping frut trees, and also smashing down wheat crops, until now they are unlikely to be fit for anything but grazing. In some fields the grain was cut,down by the hail and wholly destroyed. In some areas, widelyscattered, the hailstones were the largest within living memory, being more than an inch in diameter, and at Rangiora, it was reported, one piece of ice fell measuring five inches long by two inches thick. The storm, fortunately missed Loburn, the principal fruit growing centre. 1000’s OF ACRES AFFECTED CHRISTCHURCH, January 6. An inspection made, to-day, reveals a trail of heavy damage caused to crops from Ashburton to Rangiora, by yesterday’s hail storms, the worst for thirty years in North Canterbury. Certain areas were not affected, but where the storm raged, stalks were battered down and smashed off heads on many thousands of acres. This was noticeably so between Swannanoa and Ashley bridge, where jagged lumps of ice fell for fully fifteen minutes, followed by heavy rain. The wheat crops suffered most. The hail carved a path from Ashburton to Christchurch and Rangiora, and then went out past Leithfield to the sea. Luckily, the hail did not go so far as Loburn where it would have caused havoc to the fruit orchards. FLOODS IN QUEENSLAND. (Received January 6, 11.30 a.m.) BRISBANE, January G. As the result of heavy rains, most of the arterial roads from Brisbane to the country centres have become impassable-. The North Coast load is closed to traffic right, through to Gympie, and the road to Toowoomba is under water. The main inland communication link with New South Wales is also inundated. ORANGE RIVER OVERFLOWS. (Received January 6. 11.30 a.m.) CAPETOWN, January 5. Swollen by torrential rains, the Orange River is roaring in flood, causing immense damage in south-west Africa. Districts are isolated through the approaching bridges being submerged. A wireless from Walvis Bay states the dunes formed a lake three miles wide, which threatens to flood the town. Anxiety is felt regarding a large number of families marooned on the islands. Six weeks ago, the riverbed was dry. Several villages are now submerged. BLIZZARD IN JAPAN SEVERAL LIVES LOST [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Reed. Jan. 6, 10.45 a.m.). TOKIO, January 5. A terrific blizzard is raging on the north-west coast. Communications are disrupted, and several deaths are known. Shipping is stormbound in the harbours, and there are enormous waves. Trains are stalled in snow reaching ten feet. An engine proceeding to rescue passengers was derailed. It■ fell into a riverbed from a bridge.! The engineers were severly injured.