FIERCE GALES IN SOUTH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20072, 9 October 1928, Page 10

FIERCE GALES IN SOUTH.

DAMAGE AT WELLINGTON. HOUSE ROOF LIFTED BODILY. DEBRIS FLUNG SIXTY YARDS. OTHER DWELLINGS BATTERED. [BV TELEGRAPH. -—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ~ WELLINGTON. Monday. Wellington was visited by a heavy wind this morning, sharing in a storm which was widely felt over the Dominion. A gust struck a house in Hatailai shor y after nine o'clock and. lifted the tiled roof bodily and deposited tho greater portion of it on two neighbouring houses some feet away. In its journey through the air the roof cut off the tops of all the chimneys on the house next dooi. A smaller part of it broke up and tho wind flung tiles and timber in all directions, some pieces travelling 60yds. An eye-witness said sho heard a roar, and when she looked up saw the roof rise as though it had been lifted off by Riant hands. Four houses Were damaged. The house unroofed was owned and occupied by Mrs. E. K. Alderson. There is nothing left but tho four walls. The house next door is occupied by Mrs. Birch, and it was partly on this, house and the- next one, occupied by Mr. King, that tho roof from tho first house fell.

A house behind Mrs. Alderson's, occu- , pied by Mr. Morey, was extensively dam- j aged. Not only were tho roof tiles bro- • ken but part of a chimney struck the , back door, and timber and glass were ; thrown through a small passage into the breakfast room. Bricks from the chimney ] of the unroofed house were deposited on < tho front lawn after travelling 30ft. i through the air. ' Although all the houses were occupied < at tho time no one was injured. With i tho exception of a small pano of glass • in the roar, all the windows of tho unroofed house remained intact. Mrs. Aldorson was ironing in th? kitchen ivhen the wind struck the house. Sho described the noise as deafening. She made a quick exit through the back door. In other parts of the city tho has been not so severe. A dwelling on tho Hataitai side of the tunnel caught the wind and half the iron roof on the south side was torn off. For tho first time for a number of years it has been impossible to berth a largo passenger liner at Wellington owing to tho weather. The Maunganui arrived at 6.20 a.m. to-day, but could not proceed to her berth at her usual time, between eight and nine o'clock, owing to the fierce gale which swept down from tho north and lashed the sea into a seething mass of breakers and spray. Captain McLeod, of the harbourmaster's staff, boarded the Maunganui early this morning to take charge of the berthing operations, but in spite of tho fact that two anchors were put out tho large steamer dragged her moorings. Sho was later moved to the northern fide of the harbour to shelter. At about 11.30 a.m. the wind, had moderated sufficiently for tho vessel to bo moved alongside the wharf, and sho was berthed at 12.25 p.m. She will resume her voyage to San Francisco at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon. ASHBURTON AREA SWEPT, WORST FOR FORTY YEARS. RACECOURSE STAND SUFFERS. [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ASHBURTON, Monday. Strong north-west winds which have prevailed in tho Asljburton County for tho past two weeks reached a climax on Saturday evening, when the gale attained hurricane force, lasting until daybreak yesterday. Roofs were lifted off sheds and fences were broken. It is said this was the worst windstorm in the Methven and Rakaia districts for 40 years. On many county roads traffic was suspended through tho routes being blocked by trees. On one stretch of half a ijiile in the Alford Forest district 60 broken pines were counted. Electric light and telephone wires were brought down. Tho eastern portion of tho borough was without power for threo hours on Saturday evening, and again during the night. Damage amounting to between £4OO and £SOO was done to the grandstand at the Ashburton racecourse. The entire cast end of tho main stand was blown out, and the main roof sheltering 30 liorso stalls was ripped off and tho stalls were considerably damaged. Another lino of horse stalls was moved bodily. WIND FANS BUSH FIRES. ' SETTLERS' HOMES MENACED. ! MANY TREES DESTROYED. i [HY TELECRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ASHBURTON, Monday. , Tho galo fanned the smouldering bush fires in the Stavely district and the flames } spread to tho half-cleared scrub and destroyed several outbuildings. The settlers' homes were saved by strenuous efforts. in one plantation of about 20,000 trees it is estimated that one-third to one-half . were destroyed. ' HEAVY RAIN IN OTAGO. ' RIVERS IN HIGH FLOOD. 1 CROMWELL RACE DAMAGED. 1 [llY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Monday. Heavy rains in the back country of Central Otago have put both the Clutha t and Kawarau Rivers in high flood, the - latter having risen 28ft. in three days. Tho Cromwell Development Company's works on the Kawarau River were thrown f out of commission by a wido break in r the main race, about threo chains, of the * outside wall being carried completely * away. Repairs will bo costly. Rain has s now ceased and both rivers had fallen 2ft. by 9 o'clock this morning.