THREDE DEATHS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22333, 3 February 1936, Page 10

THREDE DEATHS

AUCKLANDER, BROWNED SWEPT AWAY WITH HOUSE TRAGIC SALVAGE ATTEMPT By Radio [from our own correspondent] WIIANGAREI, Sunday A young man, Mr. Walter Botherill, of Kaitaia, was drowned last night. Hp and a companion wero endeavouring to salvage effects from a flooded house when the building collapsed and lie was washed away with the building. His companion managed to escape. Tho occupants of the house had previously left. Tho body was recovered today. Deceased lived at Balmoral, Auckland. MINE CARETAKER KILLED OVERWHELMED DURING SLEEP [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] THAMES, Sunday A middle-aged man, Mr. G. F. Webster, caretaker of the Zeehan mine, Waiomo, north of Thames, lost his life as a result of the hut in which he was sleeping being carried away during the night. Mr. Webster's hut was situated on the banks of the Puhoi stream, and it is not known whether a slip came down behind his hut and carried it into tho stream or whether tho stream overwhelmed tho hut. His body was found together with tho debris of tho hut about a mile downstream early this afternoon.

MAN BLOWN FROM ROOF PALMERSTON FATALITY [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION*] PALMERSTON NORTH. Sunday During the height of the storm a man was blown off a roof and was fatally injured. The grandstand at the Show Grounds is blown down. The gale commenced to abate about 3 p.m. It is impossible to give a comprehensive survey of tho damage. The electric power is off and will probably not be restored for three days. One of tho streets- is complotely blocked by trees.

ARAPUNI POWER FAILURE LINES BROUGHT DOWN SEVERAL INTERRUPTIONS Many householders were deprived of the use of electricity for various periods throughout yesterday when power lines were brought down by the force of the gale, and by trees catching the lines in their fall. Lines were down in all parts of the city and suburbs, and although the damage cannot be estimated until to-day, it will take several days to restore the service to normal. On about three occasions after six o'clock last night the main power lines from Arapuni were put out of commission. Fortunately the interruptions were of short duration, and by eight o'clock all the lines had been repaired. One of the steel towers supporting the main Arapuni line where it crosses tho Panmure Road provided a vivid display about four o'clock yesterday afternoon. Blue flames about 20ft. long, accompanied by a loud booming noise like a fog-horn, were seen by a Mount Wellington resident issuing from three large insulators. A similar sight was Been by another resident from one of tho poles leading from the Penrose sub-station. Power Board linesmen worked at full pressure throughout yesterday and continued last night. Power in the Waitemata Electric Power-Board's area was disrupted for about two and a-half hours yesterday owing to the gale. The trouble occurred at 11.20 in the morning, owing to an actual break in the line between Penrose and Henderson. The major fault was rectified by about 1.45 p.m., but other dislocation was caused by broken sex-vice lines and the fouling of low-tension distribution lines by trees. Several poles were blown down and others had their tops snapped off just- below the cross-bars.

" Work of restoration was commenced immediately and. I expect, will be completed by Tuesday," said the acting-manager of the board, Mr. J. 11. Miller, yesterday. FURTHER INTERRUPTION SPRAY ON INSULATORS Salt spray on insulators at Bombay was stated by tho authorities at Arapuni to bo the cause of the interruption in the supply of electricity to Auckland at an early bour this morning. Arrangements were inado for the King's Wharf power station to provide power for Auckland as soon as possible.

SHIPPING DELAYED LINER AND TANKER PROLONGED PERIOD HOVE-TO The full force of the storm was experienced by tlio Shaw, Savlll and Albion liner Mntnroa and tho Norwegian motor-tanker South Africa, which wore scheduled to arrive from London and San Pedro respectively early yesterday morning. Both vessels were compelled to heave to in the storm off Cuvier Island from Saturday until last evening before the wind moderated sufficiently for them to resume their voyago to Auckland. They will arrive early this morning, Tho Mataroa has 101 passengers, as well an mail and cargo, and tho South Africa has a cargo of bulk petrol. Tho storm also delayed tho Royal Mail liner Niagara, which was due from Sydney about seven o'clock this morning. According to her wireless advico she will arrive about 9.50.

After undergoing repairs in tho Calliopo Bock tho Bank Line motor-ship Oakbank was to havo boon undockcd yesterday afternoon and despatched for Nauru Island. Owing to tho south-west gale blowing tho undocking of tho vessel was postponed until this morning. Tho continuous wot weather on Saturday prevented cargo work being done on vessels in port and in consequence their departures this week wili be delayed. The Northern Company's steamers Toniwha and Claymore wore unable to load on Saturday and they did not sail for Paeroa and Whangaroi resji/c----tively last evening as was intended. Their departures were postponed until this evening. (