CAMPERS' PLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22620, 7 January 1937, Page 11

CAMPERS' PLIGHT

EXPERIENCE IN GALE TOPS BLOWN FROM TREES PORT WAIKATO ADVENTURE [iJY TEf.EG It APH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] PUK E K OHE, Wednesday Clinging to their tents to prevent their being snatched away by (lie \yind, while tree-tops iel 1 perilously close to them and sheets of iron were ripped trom a shack near by, a partv of campers at Port Waikato had an unpleasant hour or so during the height of the northerly gale yesterday afternoon. The wind, which had been moderate until about 1 p.m., increased in force and there were some particularly violent gusts shortly after 2 p in. Their velocity was estimated at between 50 and 60 miles an hour by the leader of the party, Mr. R. J. McGee. All members of the encampment had to turn out and hold on to the windI ward ropes to prevent the tents from \ being levelled or caught up by the wind , and carried away. While they were thus i exerting their strength against the grip of the gale, the tops of two trees ' shading the tents snapped off and ! crashed to the ground, fortunately being j carried by the wind clear of the : campers. Then sheets of iron commenced to fly from the roof of a shack close by, while, with the rain, the creek adjoining the camp started to rise rapidly. The party's predicament had become anything but enviable when the storm, which proved short-lived, commenced to abate, and by about 4 p.m. the wind had fallen light again. Rain continued at intervals, but the creek did not overflow its banks, and by this afternoon was down again to normal summer level.