FIERCE NOR’WESTER

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 107, 19 April 1933, Page 6

FIERCE NOR’WESTER

GALE IN CANTERBURY SHIPPING HELD UP. COUNTRY DISTRICTS SUFFER. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 19. The fiercest nor’-wester for many years raged for an hour round 8 o’clock this morning, attaining a speed of 60 miles an hour. Fences and stacks suffered severely in many country districts. Tree branches along the river bank in the city were thrown in all directions and at times huge clouds of dust obscured the landscape. The power lines are undamaged. Shipping companies report that the Kiwitea, due at Lyttelton at noon today from Dunedin, wirelessed that she was delayed by the storm and was not arriving till seven this evening. There is no news yet of the Gale and Storm, which were expected at Lyttelton today. The gale in the harbour delayed the berthing of the Maori and the Waimarine by half an hour. The motor ship Rangitata was blown against Gladstone Pier and leaned over so much that the superstructure damaged the undercarriage of the electric crane and a pile on the wharf was broken. The officers of the Maori report that the gale at sea was exceptionally severe. At Sumner the roof of the pumping station at Shag Rock was blown off and the brick wall of a building trader construction was blown in. A workman at Sumner was blown off his bicycle and had to be assisted home with injured hands. The weather improved later. WELLINGTON DOES NOT ESCAPE. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 19. Following a spell of wonderful weather over Easter, a strong nor’-west wind blew up last night and continued to-day with considerable rain this morning. Only minoi damage was done and no shipping delavs are reported.