ON WEST COAST

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

ON WEST COAST

RIVERS IN HIGH FLOOD A SAWMILL WRECKED DRIFTWOOD ON GREYMOUTH AERODROME GREYMOUTH. 16th January. South-westerly gales have lashed the West Coast since yesterday morning, accompanied by torrential rain. Most of the rivers are in high flood More than three inches of rain fell at Otira Gorge. Damage by the gales include the unroofing of half of one grandstand at the Omoto racecourse, and the blowing of a new house, at Kaiata, off its piles. At Wainihinihi, the saw-mill of the Truiwhate Company was wrecked, and needs complete reconstruction. In addition, the huts of mill employees were levelled. One residence at Runanga was almost entirely wrecked, while the verandah of a Greymouth residence was torn away. Many chimneys were dislodged, and numerous wireless poles are down. The Greymouth power supply was interrupted this morning for four hours, as a result of trees falling across the lines. The heavy seas washed driftwood on to the Grey aerodrome, also taking a bank of foam and debris near to the Rapahoe hotel. A motor car, proceeding out of Greymouth in the gale this evening, left the road at Omoto, skidding 15 yards, the driver being pinned beneath the running board, a passenger escaping injury. The car had to be jacked up before the driver could be released in a semi-conscious condition. He was taken to the hospital. His name is not yet available.