FIERCE GALE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23220, 14 December 1938, Page 16

FIERCE GALE

GBEYMOUTH DOWNPOUR s}■.■*' i, THUNDER AND LIGHTNING »•••-. v v'" •: - • 'if CRANE SERIOUSLY DAMAGED POLES AND FENCES LEVELLED [by telegraph —OWN correspondent] GREYMOUTH, Tuesday A galo which at times reached terrific force, and which was accompanied by. heavy rain, loud peals of thunder and vivid lightning, swept Greymouth and places near by yesterday morning in a furious storm. Serious damage was done to the Harbour Board's 75-ton hydraulic crane, the largest on the wharf, when it was derailed. Major damage in various parts of the town included the blowing down of largo hoardings, wireless poles and fences. About 3 a.m., when part of a tin chimney fell on to electricpower and light lines in Chapel Street and cut them, fuses in a near by substation were bl<swn, causing a blinding flash which, lit up the surrounding area brighter than daylight. Trouble was caused to tho Grey Electric-Power Board on tho Barrytown line. A heavy camping trailer parked outside a residence owned by Mr. C. G. Moss, Chapel Street, Greymouth, was blown over and tho roof lifted. About 50ft. of lead ridging was torn from the roof of tho Greymouth Post Office and several slates were hurled across Tainui Street.

BENEFIT FROM FLOOD WELLINGTON GOLF LINKS DEPOSIT LEFT BEHIND CARETAKER'S EXPERIENCE [by telegraph—own correspondent] WELLINGTON, Tuesday Contrary to expectations the flood waters after the 6torm on Sunday night, instead of damaging the golf links at Maqor Park, BoulcOtt and Hutt, which were covered jseveral feet deep, have actually improved tho grounds "by laying a deposit of silt and levelling some areas. On the last occasion of an exceptional flood the Manor Park links were covered with'boulders, but this time boulders and other debris were almost entirely albsent. The caretaker of the Boulcott links had an unpleasant experience yesterday in the early morning. He visited the links and, finding them entirely free from water, passed on to see what had happened to the Hutt links. When he began to return he found the water had come round behind him and his way was cut off. He iiad to wait three hours before the water went down sufficiently for him to get home. CHTJROH SPIRE STRUCK THUNDERSTORM AT MILTON [by telegraph OWN correspondent] MILTON, Tuesday A severe thunderstorm accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning was experienced yesterday afternoon while the ceremony of opening the new post office was being -performed. One of the lower turrets in the spire of tho Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church, about'Boft. from the ground level, was struck by lightning and about 2ft. of the masonry work and an ornamental spire were broken off. Slight damage was also done jt to masonry work in another portion of the church.