THE GALE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 247, 2 April 1910, Page 2

THE GALE.

The great gale of Wednesday last promises to be a record for the King Country. It commenced on Tuesday night with heavy showers of rain which only ceased when the wind arose. The violent gale continued from Tuesday night until Wednesday night and the force of the storm was such as to do considerable minor damage in this district. At Te Kuiti several big pine trees were torn up and the verandah of a house was ripped clean off and its constituent parts scattered far and wide over the adjoining paddocks. The telegraph wire controlling the tablet system on the railway was broken and this partially upset the service, the 11 o'clock train being two hours late as a consequence. Several chimneys are reported, as destroyed and a number of small shfed3 unroofed or carried away. At Paeroa groat floods have taken place, the Ohincmuri overflowing its banks consequent upon the enonnou3 fall of rain. The flood is the biggest on record, and many settlers in that district have had their farms ruined. The streets were submerged three to four feet and some of the country roads were lying under water scvan feet deep. The steamer Koi was capsized by tremendous rollers at the entrance to Nelson harbour. The crew were saved by the harbour pilot, but a cargo of sheep valued at £l5O was lost. I " In Taranaki the gale burst with cyclonic fury, the wind blowing with a velocity never hitherto experienced on that coast. From Palmerston North and Wanganui reports of the heavy gales show the rain to have been violent, but no damage was reported by the wind. gale seems to have blown itself 'dut now, and Friday was a beautifully bright day in Te Jyuiti. Reports from Te Awamutu bring to hand some information as to the effect of the gale which has been raging for the past few days. The roof of the Presbyterian Church was blown off, while tombstones in the cemetery were overturned. Trees are down in all directions, and fences and gates have suffered extensively. The stained glas3 window of another church was blown in and completely smashed, an unfortunate occurrence as it was a land mark of the early days. The damage is very extensive, although jiofc so costly as it might have been.