ORCHARDS DAMAGED AT NEW PLYMOUTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 17 January 1939, Page 6

ORCHARDS DAMAGED AT NEW PLYMOUTH

GALE IN HAWKES BAY TREES AND FENCES LEVELLED rDnited Press Association! HASTINGS, 16th January. Losses by falling and bruising ranging up to 30 per cent, in the case of Gravenstein apples and William Bon Cretien pears have been caused in orchards in the Hastings district by a severe north-west gale which, except for a brief period last night, has swept Hawkes Bay since yesterday morning. The wind dropped at sundown this evening to a light breeze. Yesterday’s gale, which died away about 10 o’clock last night, sprang up again with increased violence just before midnight and continued with undiminished violence throughout to-day. The strength of the wind averaged more than 40 m.p.h. with frequent gusts of fully 60 miles an hour. There is every indication that general damage throughout the province will total a considerable sum. The principal sufferers are orchardists, but damage to grass seed, hay and ground crops is considerable. To-day’s gale appeared to reach its maximum violence about noon, when a succession of violent gusts uprooted trees, levelled fences and hoardings, and caused general havoc to ground crops such as tomatoes, pumpkins and melons, as well as thousands of private gardens. The scene in fruit-growing areas around Hastings at the height of today’s blow was extraordinary, but sad, heavily-laden trees in orchards being unmercifully lashed and twisted by the wind, while leaves and branches from shelter trees were flying on the wind, and leaving a trail of debris along the roads. POPLARS AND OAKS DAMAGED The famous poplar grove in Pakowhai presented an extraordinary sight. The whole roadway between the trees was carpeted to a depth of a foot and more with leaves and small branches. v/i* v an occasional large branch to trap the driver ■who was not exercising the greatest care. The giant poplars which form the avenue stood to the gale without injury, but several younger trees in a nearby plantation were badly damaged. The equally-famous and historic oak grove in Karamu, which was planted by the late Hon. J. D. Ormond, and lines the drive to the old Ormond homestead, presented a similar sight. Some of the oaks, however, were unable to stand up to the wind as bravely as did the poplars and several were uprooted. A large poplar tree alongside the oak grove crashed directly on top of a fence strainer post, driving it into the ground fully a foot. In addition to damage to orchards, crops and gardens, the gale was responsible for several electric power and telephone interruptions. The NapierGisbome telephone service was interrupted this morning because of breaks in Bay View and at a point south of Wairoa, but these were repaired during the morning.. Further trouble occurred in Bay View during the afternoon, and telephone services in the Esk Valley were not restored till evening. Lightering work on the overseas liner Sultan Star in Napier roadstead was held up all day because of the rough sea. LOSSES OF FRUIT In addition to direct losses suffered by orchardists through fallen and bruised fruit, indirect losses because of damaged trees and foliage are also serious and are bound to affect next year’s crop. A3O per cent, loss of the Gravenstein crop comes at a time when the price for this variety U approximately 13s a case. The orchardist is thus deprived of a good deal of the benefit of. this early variety when prices are highest

A visit to Pakowhai orchard this morning vividly illustrated what havoc a high wind can cause to fruit trees with crops nearing maturity. Though more than a score of cases of fallen Gravensteins had already been picked up there was hardly a square yard between the rows of trees without a fallen apple on it A fow of quince trees in this orchard received considerate ■ damage. The constant lashing of the trees causing severe rubbing and bruising of the fruit, very little of ■which will be marketable.

Though not so fully matured as Gravenjteins, crops of Delicious, Sturmer and other varieties of apples received considerable bruising and quantities suitable for export are bound to be lowered. The delicious crop is very light, so growers’ losses because of the wind are all the more serious. In some orchards losses of peaches and plums near maturity are very serious.

A ; rominent orchardist said to-day he was 4li3t as much perturbed about the damage to trees as he was about immediate losses of fruit in his orchard. There had been a good deal of damage to trees through breaking as well as to foliage, which would have an effect on next yea. 3 crop. Other orchardists report sses of through their being smashed by falling shelter trees. Many of these trees are ruined and will have to be replaced. The chief cause of trouble with electric power lines was fallen trees. Power in most cases was quickly restored by the Hawkes Bay Electric Power Board’s staff, and in the main little inconvenience resulted. Trees in public parks and private gardens in Napier and Hastings were a good deal knocked about. DUST IN ESK VALLEY Conditions in Esk Valley both yesterday and to-day were extremely trying, an motorists going through the valley found driving conditions at times dangerous. Despite enormous quantities dust blown seaward from the silt-covered valley, a settler said tonight that it had made no noticeable difference to paddocks, because as

fas’ as the dust was blown off it was replaced b; dust blown from the slipscarred hills.

SHIPPING HAS BAD TIME HEAVY SWELL AT BREAKWATER VESSELS UNABLE TO BERTH NEW PLYMOUTH, 16th January. Twice the coastal motor freighter Holmlea tried to berth at New Plymouth this evening to get some shelter from mountainous seas and a wind of gale force and twice she was ordered away from the wharf by the port authorities. “I would have you in if I could but I have got enough trouble on my hands now with the ships already in port,” the New Plymouth harbourmaster, Captain Mclntyre, was heard to tell the master of • the Holmlea, Captain Barker, when he ordered him to Jet go lines that had been made fast to the wharf and put to sea. Seldom has the port of New Plymouth been swept by such seas as those running to-day. All day long a wind of full gale force swept the port and the breakwater was continually awash as great westerly seas rolled over it. In port were the steamer Napier Star, the German barque Kommodore Johnsen, and the coaster Holmglen. Several lines carried away during the day and at night all ships were double-moored for safety and a close watch was being kept both by the harbour authorities and the ship’s officers. Out to sea three vessels are weathering the storm as well as they can as it is impossible for them to get into the wharves. The overseas vessel Orari made port early on Sunday evening but could not berth and put to sea again immediately and has been neither seen nor heard of since. The Wanganui bar is reported to be silted up and the fertiliser steamer Polzella put to sea from there on Sunday evening for New Plymouth. She. too. is at sea waiting for a chance to berth. EXTREMELY ROUGH PASSAGE The Holmlea anchored in the comparative shelter of the breakwater with full steam up for a quick departure if necessary. She has had the roughest of passages since she left Wellington at 6.45 p.m. on Saturday. In the 48 hours which she required to reach New Plymouth the small ship had no shelter and all the time she was fighting her way into seas such as are seldom experienced on the New Zealand coast. She appeared off New Plymouth about 6 o'clock to-hight and, as she rounded to enter the port unsignalled, she wallowed alarmingly in the great trough of rough water that made entry to the harbour dangerous. The Holmlea got in safely and made between the two wharves. There, however, the nightwatchman at the port ordered her to sea again and the ship had tO’ back out and make an endeavour to run for the open sea. This was impracticable and an effort was then made t° anchor in the fairway. Such was the force of wind and sea that the anchors began to drag alarmingly, and then Captain Barker made up his mind to go in to the wharf.

Rolling and pitching wildly in the rough sea, the ship nosed into a berth at the windward side of the Newton King Wharf but there were few mooring ropes available. Then the New Plymouth harbourmaster arrived on the scene and ordered the Holmlea back to sea, saying the vessel would be able to ride the storm safely in the lee of the breakwater. Before the arrival of the harbourmaster Captain Barker was heard to give some comments on the trip to Captain Munro of the sister-ship Holmglen. He said that the 48 hours at sea were the worst imaginable, and he had not been off the bridge for 24 hours. “After last night I’m not going to stay out again in the same conditions,” I he said. “That is why I came into the wharf.” However, the harbourmaster ruled otherwise and out he had to go. At dusk the Holmlea appeared safe in an anchored position, about a nimrter of a mil 2 from the wharf and it was thought unlikely that the safety of the vessel would be menaced during the night. LIGHTNING STRIKES POWER LINE DAMAGE IN SOUTHERN HAWKES BAY DANNEVIRKE, 16th January. A storm last night caused considerable damage in Southern Hawkes Bay. particularly to power lines. Lightning early this morning struck the main electricity lead into the residence of Mr J. E. Tyjer, Christian street, Dannevirke, setting fire ta the switchboard and blowing up the meter. The wall caught fire, but the fire was subdued by the Dannevirke Fire Brigade. Power lines were damaged from Kiritaki to Norsewood, and all the district from Piripiri north was cut off till this morning because of a break in the 11.000-volt wire at Piripiri. TONS OF SAND ON THE MOVE AT CASTLECLIFF AMAZING SIGHT ON BEACH WANGANUI. 16th January. A mass of piled-up sand about six feet high was driven along Castlecliff Beach by the wind in the direction of the harbour moles to-day The sand had accumulated near the band rotunda and its progress along the beach made an amazing sight for seaside dwellers. Thousands of tons of sand were on the ; move, and yesterday and to-day the whole appearance of the beach has been altered by the gale. Caught by the wind the sand looked like swirling black smoke as it was lifted into the air in columns and swept away to another part of the beach. At high water to-day tremendous seas pounded the bea and the air was laden with spune and spray From the beach near the tram terminus it was impossible to see the harbour entrance because of high sea dashing over the moles Weeks of boisterous weather in Wanganui had their climax in a gale which swept the district all day yesterday, and again to-day there was no abatement in the force of the gale when darkness fell. Last night the wind increased in fury till the early

hours of the morning, when a severe electrical storm, accompanied by torrential rain, created an alarming disturbance. waking most people. Despite the intensity of the storm, surprisingly little damage was done to property, though gardens have suffered extensively. WHOLE DISTRICT SWEPT LOW TEMPERATURES IN TARANAKI NEW PLYMOUTH. 16th January. Causing damage of a minor nature a high wind swept practically the whole of Taranaki yesterday from a north-westerly direction. The wind was bitter and temperatures were low throughout the province, snow again falling on Mount Egmont early yesterday morning. About 10 o’clock the lights in the Stratford Borough failed and the fault was traced to a broken cable. The readings of the barometer at North Egmont were the lowest in his experience of the mountain, said the j manager of the hostel. All day there I was a terrific wind. On Saturday there was a light sprinkling of snow on the higher .-.lopes, commencing about 6000 I feet. TELEGRAPH SERVICES INTERRUPTED FALLEN TREES ACROSS LINES WELLINGTON, This Day. Strong gales and boisterous weather north of Palmerston North were responsible for the disruption of the telegraph service with Gisborne 3'esterday morning Circuits from Wellington to Gisborne and from Auckland to Gisborne were established at intervals, but were subject to interruption throughout the morning, and early afternoon. Communication with New Plymouth was “shaky” till late last night, but by 5 p.m traffic with Gisborne was restored to normal. At 1 p.m traffic from Wellington for New Plymouth and Wanganui was delayed two hours, and at 2.20 p.m. Gisborne traffic was delayed four hours. Fallen trees across the lines caused interruption to communication with Dunedin About 3 p.m. there was a tree across the wires south of Oamaru. and about 3.15 pm. a tree across the wires 15 miles north of Dunedin caused further trouble. REPORTS FROM OTHER TOWNS The gale in Waverley shook houses as if a severe earthquake were in progress. No damage is reported. The worst gale for 30 years occurred in Taihape yesterday and the wind was stnl blowing strongly to-day. Telephones in Bulls were put out of order by the gale. A break occurred m the telegraph line ard several chimneys were blown down, but otherwise there was no damage. In Marton minor telephone and power interruptions occurred and trees were uprooted by the gale in some parts 'if the district No serious damage was reported, however. Late yesterday afternoon there was a thunderstorm, but it was not severe. It was one of che roughest nights in Marton for many years. Raetihi escaped the full force of the gale. Minor damage was caused to telephone lines in Patea.