TARANAKI GALE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23425, 15 August 1939, Page 11

TARANAKI GALE

POWER, LINES DAMAGED much snow round egmont HEAVY TOLL OF YOUNG LAMBS [BY TELEGRAPH— OWN CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH. Monday Damage to power and telephone lines in many parts of Taranaki was done to-day by a high Avind that accompanied bitter mid-winter conditions and heavy snow on all higher levels. The wind at o.HO o'clock this morning reached a velocity of G3 miles an hour and several gusts of the same force were responsible for lines being broken. A heavy sign loft, long and 3ft. wide was blown from a store in the main thoroughfare of New Plymouth and broke several telephone wires. Falling trees nre believed to have been responsible for two breakages between New Plymouth and Awakino, one at Tongnporutu and the other at Mokau. Broken wires were also reported from Waitara, Inglewood and Raliotu and at liepperton a tree blown across the power linos this morning broke six wires. Service lines in many districts wore affected. The North Mount Egmont hostel was isolated until early this afternoon owing to the telephone lino from the reservo gate to the hostel being broken. When communication was restored it was learned that the snow, which had been falling since early yesterday morning, showed no signs of ceasing. In places around the hostel its depth ranged from two to four feet, revealing it as the heaviest fall of the winter. A snow plough was kept busy clearing the road through the reserve to the hostel. Farm lands 'in a wide circle round the Egmont National Park reserve and the higher lands of central Taranaki lay beneath a coat of snow. The bitter weather is believed to have taken a heavv toll of early lambs and young 17 o stock. WANGANUI SWEPT TREES ANI) FENCES DOWN CREEKS AND RIVERS RISING LOUD PEALS OF THUNDER [BY TELEGRAFH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] ; WANGANUI. Monday After experiencing strong winds and heavy showers of rain since Thursday night, the Wanganui district was swept by a storm of exceptional violence last night. At times the wind, which was accompanied by driving rain, reached gale force, and conditions at Castlecliff were unusually severe. Heavy seas were breaking high over the stranded Port Line steamer Port Bowen, but the ship came through undamaged. Lightning and loud peals of thunder continued until dawn. Creeks and rivers are rising, the Turakina Iliver having risen more than 6ft. to-day. In the more exposed parts of the city and suburbs trees and fences were blown down. Minor interruptions to power services and telepliQnes occurred in tho district.

TRAIN DERAILED CENTRAL OTAGO LINE SERVICES DISORGANISED DUNEDIN MANTLE SOON THAWS [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, Monday Any danger of another snowstorm of the magnitude of the visitation of last month disappeared to-dav, when bright sunshine quickly melted the light carpet which covered the city on Sunday night., A particularly heavy fall in Central Otago caused serious dislocation of traffic on the line between Dunedin and Cromwell. A goods train was completely snowed in near Hyde, and when an endeavour was made to freo it from large drifts the engine and van were derailed, preventing the running of two Central Otago trains. The van was put back on the line during the afternoon, but it was Into to-night before the engino was finally restored to the rails. In the meantime two expresses, from Dunedin and Cromwell, were sent away this morning in the hope that the lino would be cleared in time to allow them to proceed, but the train from Dunedin was held at Middleniarch, while tho express from Cromwell was not taken any further than Ranfurly. An effort was made to have the passengers of both trains sent on to their destinations by cars but it was not found possible to obtain sufficient vehicles, so the trains returned.

It is anticipated that the service will be resumed to-morrow, but there are still heavy drifts on the line in the vicinity of Hvde.