HUGE HAILSTONES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 12140, 30 December 1933, Page 5

HUGE HAILSTONES

BIG AS BIG EON EGGS. GROUND THREE INCHES DEEP IN FOUR MINUTES. (Press Association) NELSON, Dec. 29. ’ While escaping most of the Dominion's unseasonable weather during the holidays, Nelson's protecting ranges wore unable to shield the district from the tail-end of a fierce south-westerly squall which passed over yesterday afternoon. Narrow sectors experienced heavy falls of hail, which in the Pangato-ta-ra district resulted in tli e destruction of approximately 50 acres of tobacco plants. Growers in other districts also suffered. In four minutes the hail was 3in deep, the fall being unique in tile districts history. In sonic parts, the hailstones were as big as pigeon eggs, and njostly jagged pieces of ice,, They fell with unusual force, bouncing like small tennis kails. It is understood that | efforts will be jrnade to secure replanting, though the season is rather far advanced. Fair crops have at times been obtained with late planting^ RAIN, HAIL AND SLEET. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 23 EiirUie-r . rain, bail, and sleet stiyms raged in Ijf.orth Canterbury during tile night and continued this morning, doing considerable damage to fruit and standing crops. Many camping parties, were driven to shelter. The storm caused ail interruption of transmission last evening at the now 3YA station at Gebbie’s Pass, and the normal programme had to be suspended for a time while the power was reduced to permit of the cleaning of a lead-in which had become coated in sleet, FIRES IN AUCKLAND HOMES. AUCKLAND, Dec. 29. The weather, upon which so many depend i; At this time of the year, continues to bo uncertain. ..Hollowing, rain yesterday afternoon whiich caused a postponement of sports, the night was so cold that many homes bad fires. To-day dawned .gloriously fine’, though, cold; ,but Tbeforeq irfejoh there bad Leon drizzling Vain,/ 'bursts .. of siitishihe; a. brief hailstorm, and, suii again. The .nailstorm; which occurred, just before they,.'first v race at. Epsom, was exceedingly, heavy while it .la-sted. : ,On,*;the' ' whole', it is. a sort - of 'Christmas week in'which those who am obliged to work have the best of it-, ; ' fft-LI' 1 V- -.; " B■■■" . pv; .Ccß •• iN-s *

- SEVERE .'SOUTHERLY IN WELLINGTON, Press Association) * WELLINGTON, Dec. 29. A sovere southerly storm struck Wellington in the early hours of this morning,, accompanied by had .squalls thunder and lightning. - The weather is fine, but cold tb-day, with a very occasional squall. HEAVY FROST AT OPOTIKI: PUMPKINS AND MAIZE AFFECTED. (Special To The Times.) OPOTIKI, Dec. 29 Summer has suddenly given away tp winter in the Opcitiki district, a fairly heavy frost being experienced last night which blackened the pumpkins heavily, and in a lessei degree affected the maize crops. There wa s a severe "hail storm last evening, which brought the rainfall for yesterday up to half an inchThe weather is still very cold and cloudy. •