The Kaikora Whirlwind.

Hastings Standard, Issue 280, 25 March 1897, Page 4

The Kaikora Whirlwind.

For once in a while the quiet township of Kaikora particularly lively, being made so on Saturday by the very sudden arrival, from the direction of The Brow, of a huge whirlwind, accompanied by a terrific sound, as of a long peal of thunder. The appearance of this phenomenon was the cause of the consternation, .for the trees (only a few yards off the main road), to the right were perfectly still; so also were those on the left, not a leaf moving, silent as the tomb. But this pillar of wind and dust coming along from the hills behind Mrs Soley's and Mr C. Clark's residence with everincreasing velocity towards the township, brought everyone out of their houses. It was observed by all, then fear ensued, for no one knew where it was to strike uext. The fear increased, as those who lived tn the lower, or eastern side of the town watched it approaching them. Tearing up trees m Mrs Soley's garden, across-the Te Aute road to the poplars, snapping them off about 12 feet from the ground, uprooting willows, rending others asunder, gathering up the pulverised soil of Bowman's newly harrowed paddock, whole tops of trees, with good sized branches of larger ones, together with everything that was lying strewed in its path. The force was so great on the roof of the Rechabite hall with its rebound after the wind had passed over it, that it withdrew one of the principals from its socket, falling and resting on the beam overhead. On it went, striking the Library roof, which is on the right hand side of the' road, looking east, tearing the iron off it and Mr Mackay's, house, the sheets ascending like maxims or flying machines to two or three hundred feet in height, then it knocked a little child of Mr Mackay's down on the ground, rolling it along. The child, fortunately, was quickly rescued by a young and strong youth. Now it goes madly on between the hotel and store without destroying anything there, marvellous to relate, except the excessive pressure upon the body by the storm of wind and dust passing, causing men to hold on, those with burly proportions thanking their stars that they were over-weighted for it kept them close to mother earth. Across this road again, it strikes Pedersen's bakery shop, the verandah of which goes round the whole front of the shop. The whole of this, roof, beams, posts and blocks, the last named being drawn clean out of the ground were litted with the mighty force of the gust clean over the roof of the building in three or four sections, one piece of a beam smashing a hole right through the gable end of the bakehouse; the others were carried into Mr Asplet's yard, two chains away. Here it over-turned three small haystacks and stripped half the roof off Mrs Anderton's house. Thence to Mr Mansfield's, where it lifted bodily, over 40ft., a small shed from its blocks to the side of his private house. All the time the whirlwind was being watched by the residents with bated hreath for fear anyone should be hurt. So far no accident has been reported. As it left the town a resident was seen to put two little children to the wire fence, and, compelling them to hold on tightly, he remained with them till it passed by, the wind in its career splitting trees and overturning sheep in great numbers. Finally it was lost to sight after it had apparently passed over Mr Robert Tod's residence. The excitement was intense, mothers suffering the most, and many trembled long after the whirlwind had gone. Altogether it was a unique experience for Kaikora, and will not soon be forgotten. — Waipawa Mail.