WESTLAND STORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23205, 26 November 1938, Page 14

WESTLAND STORM

.WIND OF GALE FORCE HEAVY FALLS OF RAIN \ » TELEPHONE INTERRUPTIONS [BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT] GREYMOUTH, Friday A northerly storm, which sprang up suddenly about midnight last night, brought gales and heavy, although intermittent, rain to the West Coast today. Barometric pressure dropped throughout the morning to 29.70 in. at noon and tho fall was followed by northerly winds of gale force, which .caused minor damage, in various parts of the town and district. *

During tho early hours of the morning torrential rain was experienced, 1.45 m. being recorded at Grcymouth from midnight to nine o'clock this morning. Inland tho fall was even heavier, resulting in quite a strong fresh in the Grey River. During the day thero was no diminution in tho wind, which continued at gale force, with gusts up to 50 miles an hour. Heavy rain again set in in the afternoon and evening. A severe electrical storm was experienced at Otira this morning and all tho fuses were blown on the Christ-church-Otira telephone lines. Faults were caused by the high wind on lines between Grcymouth and In;ingataua but conditions were restored to normal by 11.30 a.m. CAPSIZE-OF HOPPERS COAL STREWN ON WHARF. [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] GREYMOUTH. Friday Two full coal hoppers wore derailed on the Greymouth Wharf in an unusual manner ahout 10.30 this morning. The jib of tho crane at No. 3 berth,< which was not being used at the time, was swung round suddenly by the northerly gale and dragged the iron lifting frame of the crane underneath tho wheels of one of a rake of full coal hoppers. Two' of the hoppers were derailed and partially capsized, over 15 tons of coal being strewn over the wharf. The side of one of the hardwood hoppers was pierced by a wharf capstan, but that was the only damage. The coal was shovelled into other hoppers.