CYCLONIC STORM

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1932, Page 2

CYCLONIC STORM

* BUILDINGS UNROOFED. *' MUCH DAMAGE DONE. AUCKLAND, October 26. A number of settlers in the area be r tween Warkworth and . Mahurangi Heads had a terrifying experience yesterday, morning, when a cyclonic gale swept down from the north , unroofing buildings, uprooting huge trees and leaving a ’trail- of destruction in its.path. Buildings on several properties were damaged, and one large store-shed on the farm of Mr 0. 8. Jolly was flattened to the ground, while the residence had the verandah torn off. Limbs of trees, water tanks, and timber and iron frofa damaged buildings were carried more than half a mile by the gale, and Mr Jolly, who ran out of the store-shed just before it collapsed, was hurled over a fence and landed 30 yards away. , TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION, The gale struck the district about 9.30 a.m. yesterday, and although of comparatively short duration, left its mark on the countryside. The gale was first observed as it' swept ovex ; the ridge above Snell’s Beach, about four miles eost of Warkworth. As. it tore along it left a clearly defined track, a'nd finally went out to sea. The first 'building to suffer, was a large cowshed, on the property of Mr Percy Dawson. The roof was lifted off bodily and carried through the air for a distance of about 700 yards, before it was dashed to pieces among the mangroves of the Mahurangi river. The farm of Mr F. Goodall was nextin the path of the gale, and although the building escaped, several iron tanks were blown oway and were later located over a mile and a half away. Several large pinus insignis trees, about 4ft in diameter, were cut off about 18ft from the ground, and the tops carried away on the wind. Willows and kowliai trees also suffered, and a pohqtukawa tree, known to be over 50 years old, was levelled. At this stage the track of the gale was over 300 yards wide, and although trees and crops were uprooted and flattened, growth on either side was left untouched. Similar damage to trees was done on the old Dawson homestead property, and the limb of a pine tree, estimated to weigh half a ton, was carried to a point 1000 yards away.

SHED COLLAPSES. The gale then swept across* l&illrSrt arnj of tidal :water, cutting a channel through "-the mangroves'.' Mr Jolly’s farm, on the far side* of this inlet, received most damage. A boatshed had the roof lifted, a nd the sides damaged, and a big, store-shed, measuring about 40ft by 30ft, was completely demolished. The house was also struck and the verandah torn off. Flying timber and iron broke all the windows in the house. Mr Jolly was in the shed when he heard the rear of the gale, and running to the door, saw that the air was full of flying boughs and timber. He was caught by the wind and flung over the fence, but suffered no serious injury. Tho gale next swept across the property of Messrs A. L. and W. F. McElroy.« and as it left the shores trees and shrubs were torn from the ton of the cliff.. A launch, belonging tp Mr C.S. Jolly, which,'was lying at

the wharf, was also damaged, but as it was aground it was not blown away. Altogether, Mr Jolly’s losses are estimated to be not less than vCfICO. Fortunately no injury was suffered by any of the settlers or their families.