GALE IN WANGANUI.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19505, 13 June 1925, Page 9

GALE IN WANGANUI.

GRANDSTAND ROOF TAKES FLIGHT. DEPOSITED ON TOP OP DWELLING. (From Cub Own Correspondent.) WANGANUI, June 12. A rather sensational happening occurred in' Hatriek street this afternoon. A southerly gale of wind of great violence developed in the afternoon and blew down many fences and trees, several largo macrocarpas being uprooted. However, a feature of tho gale was the lifting bodily of the roof of the grandstand on the recreation grounds, carrying it along about 30ft and depositing it on masse on the roof of tho residence of Mr W. L. Young, principal of the firm of Messrs Young and Collins. Those who happened to be in the vicinity at the time state that there was no noise other than that caused by nails when being drawn from their sockets by the violence of tho wind. In its transit the flying structure knocked over tho drawing room brickchimney. Mrs Young and her maid, who wore in the house at tho time, received a great fright as the heavily-weighted roof came down on tho roof of tho dwelling. It was a different matter to remove the structure with such a gale blowing, and a largo staff of borough workmen were engaged, and by use of heavy ropes they scoured it safely. In addition to the damage to tho chimney and the top of the dwelling a good deal of damage was done to tho corrugated iron roof which was penetrated by some of tho heavy beams and projections of limber. It was very fortunate that the flying roof was carried in tho direction it was. Had it been swept into Guyton street among the tram and pedestrian traffic somebody might have been killed.