TOUCH OF WINTER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11325, 1 October 1930, Page 5

TOUCH OF WINTER

HEAVY HAIL STORM

LITTLE DAMAGE F.iXFELTED

■ Gisborne was visited yesterday afternoon by one of.the heaviest hailstorms for:, many years, but fortunately it proved of very short duration. The fall commenced shortly after 2.30 p.m., and extended over a period of about ten minutes. That short space, however, was sufficient for a. fairly thick coating of the frozen 'particles to gather on streets and buildings, the mantle, m sheltered places, thickening to . inches. One of the main inconveniences caused was that meetings etc, in progress wore more or less interrupted by the pattering of the hailstones on roofs. As far a-s orchards are concerned, however, it is considered that these should have escaped any material damage owing to the immaturity of the fruit. Alany flower gardens in the town suffered to some extent, hut 'the lashing of the large stones was hardly continued long enough to have any permanent effect on plants.

TORRENTIAL RAIN AND BIG HAILSTONES.

AUCKLAND ORCH.V.R l)S DAMAGED.

(Special To The Times). AUCKLAND, Sept. 30

The wind that prevailed yesterday: and reached the height of its fury in the evening, swept gardens liicnlessly, litre down a number of fences, and (lid considerable damage to orchards. Torrential rain and hailstones of unusual shape and size added to tlio destruction, and probably affected blossoming fruit trees more than anything else. Hailstones as large as marbles i’eil in the Oratia district, according to a prominent fruitgrower, and’ when orchards were inspected this morning, fruit blossoms were found to be much scattered. In some places tho ground was covered with a mantle -of ,white and pink picLils. Portions of Henderson nearest the citv appeared to have missed the; storm and various growers report j but little dama-go to their trees owing to use of shelter bells. Practically no part of the district from Helensvillc in the North to Ngaruawaliia and beyond h 1 “ ie South, is without some sign of the bitterness of tlie weather. • Hail fell near the city and in most parts across the harbour jagged lumps of iec, m -some cases as big as match boxes, were picked up.