DAMAGE CAUSED BY GALE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 4 May 1934, Page 7

DAMAGE CAUSED BY GALE

Worst Storm in Many Years BAY OF PLENTY SUFFERS Many Buildings Unroofed TREES AND STACKS RAZED HIGH WIND AND HEAVY RAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WHAKATANE, May 4. The most severe storm for several years was experienced here last night and caused damage to buildings on the waterfront to the extent of several hundreds of pounds. The north-easterly gale unroofed the service station portion of the Rotorua. Motor Transport Company’s new building ami"Dent’s.boat building shed and tlie Atlantic Oil Company’s depot. A fish smoke house collapsed. Several motor sheds and fences were blown down. Trees were uprooted and haystacks damaged in many parts of the district.

The force of the wind backed up the tide and caused the water to encroach on the roadway and the wharf sheds approaches. , The rain for 48 hours measured 2.31 inches.

ROTORUA IN DARKNESS

BREAKING OF POWER LINES,

ROTORUA, Mav 4

Rotorua had 1 dinner last evening by candlelight, lamplight, or any other emergency light available, -the whole town being in darkness, no far as electricity was concerned until shortly before 7 p.m. The main power supply from Arapuni was broken iby trees falling across the line. Six' power poles were blown over at Mourea, this preventing the standby plant at Okere from being brought into action. Gum trees uprooted in Fenton Street broke telephone communication with tho south during the afternoon, while a. number of trees was uprooted in various parts of the town and surrounding districts. Windows were blown in in several cases and some tiles Were blown off the roof of the post office. Lake Rotorua was -very rough and several launches and boats broke their moorings and were washed up on the foreshore. The fire alarm •sounded during the period of darkness, the old firebeli being used owing to the fact that the electric siren could not be operated.

BLOW ON TAURANGA HARBOUR.

SMALL CRAFT BUFFETED.

TAURANGA, Mav 4. The worst easterly storm for ten years swept over tlie town and district yesterday. Last night heavy seas in the harbour caused the owners of small craft some anxiety. Two were driven ashore and two sunk at their moorings. Several dinghevs also went ashore. A few windows were blown in. Trees and fences are doivn. Two inches of rain wore recorded. No road damage was reported.

BEACH WALLS COLLAPSE

SEASIDE HOMES THREATENED

WAVES IN AUCKLAND CHANNEL.

AUCKLAND, May 4. Heavy rain fell in Auckland last night and it is drizzling to-day. The total fall for 24 hours up to 9 o’clock was 2i inches. A further heavy fall seems likely.

The most serious damage done by the gale was at Milford beach, where the seas raised were stronger than in any storm since 1913. The waves pounded the stone walls of sections with beach frontages, and at high tide towards midnight several walls collapsed. The seas then rapidly ate away the sandy sections and threatened to undermine the houses. Some residents were considerably alarmed, and as the weather continues threatening there is a possibility that at least one residence will be demolished by the high seas to-niglit. The work of the residents in improving the sections for many years has been undone and the damage runs into thousands of pounds.

CANTERBURY RIVERS RISE SLIPS ON ROADS EXPECTED CHRISTCHURCH, May 4. Exceedingly heavy rain fell in Ganterburv overnight and is continuing steadily all day. Most rivers are rising, but the only serious damage is reported from a spot 14 miles north of Kaikoura, where the approaches to the bridge on the main road were washed awav. Oar passengers have to cross the gap on foot to relief cars. Further slips, are expected.