GALES CAUSE HAVOC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20868, 9 May 1931, Page 8

GALES CAUSE HAVOC.

OPOTIKI AREA SWEPT. ROOFS BLOWN OFF HOUSES. MOTORISTS' LUCKY ESCAPE POLE FALLS ACROSS CAR. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] OPOTIKI. Friday. A very severe southerly gale commenced at Opotiki early this morning and did considerable damage. Power and telegraph lines were broken.

Advice was received that the roof had been blown off Mr. A. Rau's residence at Waiolahi. Part of the roof was blown off Mr. S. Parkinson's house at Otara.

Tho driver and passengers in a service car had a narrow escape when a telegraph pole fell across the bonnet of the car. A largo plate-glass window in the building of the Farmers' Trading Company at Gisborne was blown in. A lad, M. Parkinson, was cut by the glass and had to receive medical attention.

DAMAGE IN TAKANAKI. TREES AND FENCES DOWN. POWER SUPPLIES INTERRUPTED. [by telegraph.—own' correspondent.] NEW PLYMOUTH. Friday. A heavy south-easterly gale swept across Taranaki throughout last night and to-day. In New Plymouth trees and fences were blown down and on three occasions this morning trees fell across tho power lines and cut off tho power. Tho trams were held up at about 7.30 a.m., when a fairly serious break occurred in tho lines. For about 20 minutes the principal part of the town was without power.

Considerable inconvenience was caused to shipping. The small coastal steamer John left New Plymouth late on Wednesday night for Wellington. After a strenuous battle down the coast she found she was unable to proceed past Cape Egmont, where the wind was blowing a whole gale and very heavy seas running. She returned to New Plymouth. ' The Port Hunter arrived in the roadStead about 7 a.m. .to-day from Wanganui. Owing to the gale she was unable to berth and will stand off until the wind drops.

HIGH WIND IN WAIKATO.

DAMAGE TO BUILDINGS.

TREES LIFTED BY ROOTS. [from our own correspondent.] HAMILTON, Friday. Koofs were blown off outbuildings and trees were uprooted as the result of the high wind to-day in Hamilton and the surrounding districts. The wind was responsible for other damage of a minor nature. The day was exceptionally cold.