THE OAMARU STORM

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 9 January 1929, Page 4

THE OAMARU STORM

SEVERE LOSSES

DAMAGE RUNS INTO THOUSANDS

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

OAMARU, Bth January. Although a heavy shower, accompanied by thunder and lightning, fell at Oamaru, the town escaped the fury of the storm, and while the Five Forks area was swept, the storm passed over the Clifton Falls, where dust was blowing from the road. Many farmers are faced with severe loss, crops ready for the binder being laid waste, and the season’s cropping going for nought in a few minutes.

Root crops suffered similarly. A settler at Incholme was about to take the binder into the wheat crop when the downpour came. He is now wondering whether it is worth while, as the heads of the wheat are almost completely stripped.

The full force of the storm was received at Maruako, Five Forks, and two paddocks of wheat and one of oats owned by Mr George Ludeman were completely destroyed. Similar disastrous results attended neighbours’ crops. A paddock of mangolds was ripped up as if it were cut with a whip-lash. Window panes were smashed, and damage of this nature extended to' practically every house along the route. Enfield and Windsor fared little better, and a gaping hole was tom in a corrugated iron roof of Mr T. S. Little’s wcolsiied at Corriedalc. Practically every car that was out in the storm will require a new hccd-top. The damage in this respect ran to a substantial amount.

The prospects for an excellent grain yield throughout the district had been bright, but tlie storm ruined many crops on the very eve of the harvest. No estimate can possibly be made of the damage, lnit it must run into- thousands of pounds.