SUDDEN SUMMER STORM

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3256, 28 January 1926, Page 11

SUDDEN SUMMER STORM

DOWNPOUR IN AUSTRALIA. Pnsaengera by the Melbourne to. Sydney mall train which left Wagga to-night, had a dangerous and exciting experience after passing Hare, field station, wrote the Wagga cort chpondent of a Sydney paper on January 6. Tho day was hot and muggy, and there was all appearance of a thunderstorm; but although an electrical display occurred, accompanied by a few drops of rain, the storm seemed to pass over to the oast. The full fury of a terrific storm burst over a chain of hills about 12 miles north-east, of Wagga, and withit an hour turbulent streams were -ashing down all the gullies. The railway lino for about 2(5 •hains on the north side of Harefleld station was submerged, and portions of the Main Southern line were swept away. The southern mail train left Harefleld, but proceeded only a short disanco when It ran Into tho full blast it the storm The driver, warned of he washaway, stopped tho train and >acked it to Harefleld platform. The water in some places was 6ft. deep, lundreds of acres ol farm lands were übmerged. Many farmers in the area affected >y the storm had startling experiences. and several narrow escapes from Irowning were reported. Two share farmers, returning with empty wag;ons after delivering wheat to the •ailway, were caught by tho storm. I’he driver of tho front team got icroas a depression In this road just as a volume of water came rushing town the hills. Looking back hq iaw his mate swept off his feet ana ambled down the gully by the force of the water. It was fortunate that assistance was at hand to save his life and prevent tho horses from bolt!ng. In another case, the father, when the storm was brewing, went across a oaddock to bring his small son home from a neighbour’s house. When the man, crossed the road tho dust was nearly a foot thick, but shortly afterwards the storm burst, and, on his return trip, the father was obliged to lake the boy In his arms and wade across the -oad waist deep In water. ' Residents, along Houiigan’s Creek sny the water came down In greater volume than during any previous storm. Rain fell like a cloud-burst, nearly 2in being recorded in an hour Great damage was done to fencing.

Although the track of the storm was narrow, a great area of country was affected.