LIGHTS ON AT NOON

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21606, 8 January 1945, Page 4

LIGHTS ON AT NOON

DUST PALL IN ADELAIDE ADELAIDE, Jan. 1. A dense pall of dust which spread over die metropolitan area on Friday lasi was described by the Government Meteorologist. Mr. Bromley, as possibly the worst for severity and duration in the history of Adelaide. Visibility at noon, after northerly gusts which reached 50 miles an hour, was reduced to 200 yards —a record.

Dust hung over the whole of the settled areas of the State. Drought conditions, which have virtually turned the whole of the north into a dust bowl, and the strong winds from that region, were responsible. Paralield aerodrome was closed for the day. All planes were grounded. Visibility there for the greater part of the day was reduced to about 70 yards. The A.N.A. mail plane from Sydney, which was due to arrive at 11.40 a.m., was held up at Mildura pending an improvement in conditions, and did not land at Parafield until 9.45 p.m. The plane from Perth arrived two and a-half hours late. The dust penetrated everywhere. Trams and other vehicles switched on lights and the streets presented the appearance of having been sprayed with red sand. In most city shops and houses it was necessary to have the lights full on from mid-morning, and for several hours the main lights in city streets were on.

Although drivers reported that visibility was reduced to a few yards, trains arrived on time, with one or two exceptions.