GALE IN WANGANUI

Grey River Argus, 17 June 1925, Page 5

GALE IN WANGANUI

GRANDSTAND ROOF TAKES FLIGHT. DEPOSITED ON TOP OF DWELLING. WANGANUI, June 14. A rather sensational happening oc_ ctirred in Hat rick street. A southerly gale of wind of great violence developed in the afternoon and blew down many fences and trees, several large macrocarpas being uprooted. However, a feature of the gale was the lifting bodily of the roof of the grandstand on the recreation grounds, carrying it along about 30ft. and depositing it en masse on the roof of the residence of Mr W. L. Young, principal of the firm of Messrs Young and Collins. Those who happened to be in the vicinity at the time state that there was no noise other than that caused by nails when being drawn from their sockets by the violence of the wind. Tn its transit the flying structure knocked over the drawing room brick chimney. Mrs Young and her maid, who were in tho house at the time, received a great fright as the heavily_weightcd roof camo down on the roof of the dwelling. It was a different matter to remove tho structure ■with such a gale blowing, and a large staff of borough workmen ‘were engaged, and by use of heavy ropes they secured it safely. In addition to the damage to the chimney and the top of the dwelling a good deal of damage was done to the corrugated iron roof which vns penetrated by some of the heavy henins and projections of timber. Tt was very fortunate that the flying ’•no’f was carried in the direction it was. Hnd it boon swnr.i- into Gnrtnn among the tram and pedestrian traffic, somebody might have been killed.