STORM AT ASHBURTON

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 8 October 1928, Page 5

STORM AT ASHBURTON

WORST FOR FORTY YEARS. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE. R ACECOUR SE BUILDINGS SUFFER. lily Telegraph—Pres* Association.) • v ASHBURTON, Oct, Strong north-west winds, .which !&$& prevailed m the Ashburton County for the last two weeks, a,dUimfirx on Saturday evening, when tliia gale attainedi hurricane force, ' lasting, until daybieak yestenday morning. S Roofs were lifted off -sheds," and fences were broken, considerable damage being done. It was stated that this was the worst windstorm in the Metlrven and Rafcaiai districts for 40 years. On many county roads traffic was suspended through the routes being blocked by trees. On one stretch of half a mile in the Alford Forest district, 60 broken pines were counted. Electric light and telephone wires were down, but it was stated that the power board loss in poles was lessthan in the August gale. The eastern' portion of the borough was without power for three hours on Saturday evening and again during the night. Damage amounting to between £4OOO and £SOOO was done to the grandstand at the Ashburton racecourse, when the entire east , end of the main stand was blown out. The main roofs sheltering on© line of the horse stalls, numbering 30, was ripped off and the stalls were considerably knocked' about. Another lino of horse stalls way? moved bodily;