Rough Weather in South Island

Northern Advocate, 10 August 1938, Page 5

Rough Weather in South Island

[Pgr Press Association. Copyright.! WELLINGTON, This Day. Fierce north-west gales swept Canterbury, the West Coast and South Canterbury yesterday, causing extensive damage and trouble to powerlines and communications. The district north of Waiau suffered most severely. Power lines were damaged near Cheviot, where trees and poles were blown down. Similar conditions prevailed north of Kaikoura. In many places further south, the power was cut off through damage to lines. Many buildings suffered through the fierce gale, and niany roofs wore blown off.

Emergency radio was used for service to Wellington. The district engineer, Mr H. C. Brent, said that by this morning power would be restored temporarily, and when this had been done permanent repairs would be commenced.

The West Coast experienced one of j the roughest days this year. / Winds reached gale force of 50 miles an hour at times, and considerable damage was caused to power lines. All telegraphic communication was interrupted. Bridge Rocked Alarmingly.

The large suspension bridge which spans the Grey River from Wallsend to Taylorville township was rocked about by the gale about 2.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon, in an alarming manner. The movement caused a fracture to the guy-wire on the Wallsend side. Eye-witnesses state that the bridge was lifted more than six feet into the air, and when about a dozen stay-wires gave way the structure was badly twisted.

Power supply linos to Taylorville are carried by this bridge, and the streets and homes were plunged into darkness. The service, however, was restored from another source last night. The death has occurred in Berlin of Dr. Leo Frobenius, a noted explorer.