HEAVY HALE AT DANNEVIRKE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3494, 2 November 1926, Page 9

HEAVY HALE AT DANNEVIRKE

Roof Wrenched off Grandstand

HOSPITAL SUFFERS

DAMAGE

Yesterday afternoon, says the "Dannevirke News” of November Ist, developed a westerly gale such as has not, fortunately, been known in Dannevirke for many years ,the wind as evening advanced developing practically hurricane force. Electric lights swung to and fro, casting weird shadows on the roadway, while the wind roared and shrieked and moaned as it raced through the wires and its way round obstacles. The blocks of solid masonry in the brick area naturally formed a bulwark of protection to the main street, but even here signboards were wrenched off and the cabbage trees in post office square had some of their branches torn off. Further on towards Mangatera the gale wreaked its fury in more solid damage. Showground Damage, At the A. and P. showgrounds extensive damage was done. The whole roof of the big grandstand, was lifted bodily from the walls, the strong iron bolts which bound it wrenched and broken as if had been string. The roof, with a span of 102 feet by 48 feet, came off like a lid, a terrible evidence of the force of the wind. The iron was not torn from the timbers, the whole framework, the great supporting timbers, and even the small meshed netting which acts as a celling to keep birds from nesting in the roof went with the roof! The whole structure lay on the ground at the stand, the iron roofing bent and muen of the timber splintered —a sorry sight for the A. and P. Society, already hampered with lack of funds, A layman’s estimate of the damage set it at £4OO.

The roof of the kitchen at the rear of the stand was also damaged and a chimney knocked down by the falling roof.

Near-by a long iron shed used as a soft drink and refreshment booth lies in tangled ruin and nearer the road fence a living fir tree was snapped like a reed and blown across the boundary fence and on to the electric wires which connect the showground buildings with the main line. An electric light pole was also endangered and the power board's linesmen were busied in straightening it today. Other buildings, etc., on the showgrounds escaped injury, the only other damage being the twisting about of the iron fence at the northern end of the grounds. At the Hospital.

The gale was no respecter of persons. The sick at the Public Hospital had a nerve-racking experience. Sheets of iron on the roof of the women's ward flapped and creaked ominously ,and finally some came off altogether and were carried to parts of the garden. Chimney pots were blown off, and a tall chimney swayed so ominously that it was thought advisable to remove twm patients from shelters which appeared to be in danger should the bricks begin to fall. However, it stood and was still Intact this morning. As for the roof, Mr. W. A. Pickard was rung up and despite the shrieking wind he and some workmen managed to batten down the loosened sheets of iron, and so secured some peace for those in the wards beneath. Tho sheets torn off were to be replaced to-day. The new wards also suffered damage, several tiles being blown oft. Minor Damage. The full extent of the damage in the town and round the district Is considerable. Pences were thoroughly tested and many were found unequal to the strain, being down in all directions. Shed roofs were lifted, windows smashed and cracked and other damage done. Tho conditions were very typical of those prevailing at tho Labour Day fire in Dannevlrke in 1917. Dog Fires. Fanned by the hurricane, log fires at Tataramoa, Matamau, and Norsewood sprang into activity and it was not long before dense volumes of pungent smoke was being carried in clouds by the wind. Fortunately the verdant green of the grass was a drawback to the fires spreading very far from their origin otherwise much damage would probably have been done and settlers would have had an exciting time. FLOOD AND STORM ON WEST COAST. RAILWAY BRIDGE WASHED AWAY. [Per Press Association.] REEFTON, Last Night. A thunderstorm and heavy rain yesterday caused a record flood in the Inangahua river, and considerable damage was done. Two piers of the Larry’s Crock bridge were swept away, as well as tho northern span, and about 70 yards of railway at tho southern approach. Communication with Nelson and Westport is unlikely for several days. HEAVIEST FLOOD IN HISTORY OF WESCTPOKT. HARBOUR WORKS THREATENED WESTPORT, Lust Night. One of the heaviest floods in tho history of Westport occurred on Sunday night, doing much damage to tho Bullcr Gorge road, where several big landslides have taken place. A temporary bridge at Hawke s Crag, also some smaller bridges have been

carried away, and it is also reported that two spans of the Larry’s Creek road and railway bridge near Rotokohu, have been swept away by the flood.

A big tree fell on the telegraph line, cutting off all connection with Westport until the poles were raised again, and the lines linked up today. It is expected that it will be fully three days before traffic can be'restored.

A big tree or boom has caught across two spans of the Buller bridge at the entrance to Westport, and the rush of flood waters is causing portion of the bridge to sway dangerously. Attempts so far to break the boom with dynamite have failed. As the flood waters are falling, all danger is lessening. Great inroads have been made oa McPadden’s paddock, and fears are entertained that if protective works are not speedily provided ,the Buller river will break its banks and possibly destroy Westport Harbour, on which over £3,000,000 has een expended.

lAt Argan's, workmen who were to do some protective work with willows, placed their tools under a big rata some distance back from the river, only to find when they later went to the scene, that the rata tree and the tools had disappeared in the flood waters. VESSEL DELAYED AUCKLAND, Last Night. Stormy weather caused the steamer Strathlorne, of 2503 tons .to run short of coal on the voyage from Nauru Island to Lyttelton. Two days out she met strong winds and rough seas, which continued for a fortnight, the wind at times blowing a gale. There was no damage done.