GALE ON EGMONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23201, 22 November 1938, Page 12

GALE ON EGMONT

NORTH HOSTEL LASHED IRON TORN FROM ROOF TERRIFIC NOISE ALL NIGHT NO MAJOR DAMAGE DONE [by TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday While New Plymouth felt only a strong cold breeze, Tvorth Egmont was last night lashed by a gnlo of considerable force, which the manager of the North Egmont Hostel, Mr. H. Wood, described as tho worst since that which swept North Taranaki and most of the North Island in February, 1930. Surprisingly enough, practically no major damage was done about the hostel beyond tho tearing oil of two sheets of iron from tho roof of the old house. Tho roadway from tho gates of the park to the hostel was found this morning to bo strewn wjth branches, but no trees fell to block tho track or break the telephone lines to the hostel. ' At tho hostel yesterday thero was very littlo wind, but at 8.30 o'clock in tho evening a strong south-westerly sprang up and gradually increased in intensity. All through the night it continued unabated and at 7 o'clock this morning was still very strong. A few hours later, however, the wind had dropped considerably, and by the middle of the morning the weather was fine with only a slight gusty breeze from tho south-west. According to Mr. Wood the noise all night was terrific and most of the guests at the hostel had a poor night's rest.

FATAL INJURIES LORRY BLOWN OFF ROAD PLUNGE INTO A CREEK FORMER FACTORY MANAGER [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] DANNEVIRKE, Monday As the result of a lorry being blown off tho road in the Kiritaki district the driver suffered injuries from which he subsequently died in tho Dannevirke Hospital. He was: — Mr, Hilton Broadbent, married, a middle-aged man, with three children. Mr. Broadbent was employed by A. W. Boniface, contractor for the supply of milk to schools. He suffered injuries to the thigh, a fractured nose, facial wounds and shock when the lorry ho was driving left the road, dived nose first into a creek and capsized. Tho injured man died several hours after admission to hospital. He was formerly manager of the Tirau Dairy Company. DAMAGE IN ORCHARDS FRUIT STREWN ON GROUND TREES BREAK POWER LINES [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] PALMERSTON NORTH, Monday An exceptionally heavy wind experienced in Palmerston North and surrounding districts to-day was responsible for much damage to orchards and gardens, fruit trees in particular sufforing. Plums and peaches were blown off trees to form a carpet on the ground, and the loss will bo considerable in a- number of cases. Trees on properties in country areas brought down service lines of tho Manawatu-Oroua Power Board, and in these instances tho staff disconnected the power until the owners of the properties could clear away the debris. Those areas that are still a menace to the service will bo reconnected when this is done. The repair work carried out was difficult for the men engaged on account of the high wind, which reached strong galo forco at periods in country districts.