FIERCE CYCLONE

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1936, Page 3

FIERCE CYCLONE

BUILDINGS' WRECKED IN N.S.AV

SVONEY, October 5

A fierce cyclone swept through tTu CJuyra district last week. Houses and dairy buildings were wrecked anc chops were rr.crd. Two people wen severely injured at Goonciigerry wliei their house collapsed upon them. Tlie school at Ewiugsdale was tinrOofed while 53 children were at lessons. Torrents of rain drenched them They were hurried to a near by residence for shelter. Iho children a. Gootiehgorry school became almost hysterical with fear and a bey rushed out of the building. He was burled t tlie. ground by the wind before he "a* dragged to safety. J Mariy people were severely cut and 'wV. bruised by huge bail, balling treescarried away telephone lines and interrupted electricity services, and nutde roads impassable. The damage caused by the cyclone, which swept through an area 15 miles in length and tour miles wide, is estimated at thousands of pounds. The wind a< times reached a velocity of more than 70 miles a- hour. Mrs Alex. Ditton and her two-year-old son had an amazing escape from death at Goonengerry. At the height of the storm their house col- , lapsed upon them. Mrs Ditton was 'preparing the mid-day meal. She was v bending over the stove on which a pot of water was boiling. The stove was Hurled from its position and me boiling, water s was flung over her. The foul-roomed weatherboard and iron __ b u ildi ng tli en cr urn pled. Mi's Ditton and her cihild were dragged from the wreckage and were later taken to the hospital. Mrs l>itt-6n was suffering from severe burns and shock, and the child had a broken leg. ■