SOUTH ISLAND SUFFERS.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13178, 10 February 1936, Page 5

SOUTH ISLAND SUFFERS.

HAILSTORM IN NELSON. MOKE GROWERS AFFECTED. Electric Telegraph—Press Association February 8. The Nelson district last night experienced a most unusual cold snap with snow on the ranges and falls of hail in some areas. Instances are reported where tobacco leaves were stripped from ihe plants, especially in the Riwaka, TJmukuri and Motueka river valley. Fruit crops in a nunaber of places were extensively by hailstones as large as sparrow eggs. One Riwaka grower estimates his tobacco loss at between £750 and £IOOO. Many others have had twothirds of their crop ruined. A very fierce electrical storm was experienced. GLASS-LIKE HAILSTORMS. NELSON, Last Night. Further investigations give greater damage wrought by the hailstorm. What were two, three, four, or six acres of tobacco with the large leaves ready for harvesting on Monday and representing the major portion of the year’s income were in a few minutes rendered of no value whatever. The hailstones on the "round 24 hours later were more like jagged glass. Apple orchards also suffered severely in some districts. It is impossible yet to estimate the extent of the damage but it certainly will be extensive. In some parts where there are several areas of tobacco together, probably 15 acres, all have been completely wiped out. In one instance. to add insult to injury, hail was heaped up on a ruined grower’s house to such an extent that the water worked its way through the roof as if poured from buckets, completely drenching the house and its contents. FLOODS IN CANTERBURY. C M RISTCHTJRCH, Last Night. A south-west storm with heavy and persistent rain swept Canterbury yesterday and to-day. Between 9 a.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. to-day the rainfall was 3.29 inches. Harvesting work was delayed and there was surface Hooding in many districts. The rivers in North Canterbury are in high flood. This does not apply to the large rivers which are largely snow-fed and never are affected by a south-west rain. The Main North road was made impassable to traffic by a big slip north of Hawkswood, five miles north of Parnassus. The slip may not be cleared until Tuesday so that traffic by road from Christchurch to Nelson, Blenheim and Kaikoura may be stopped to-morrow. The flooding of the Mason and Waiau rivers blocked tlie inland route to Kaikoura. \ There has been heavy erosion on the country roads in the north and several are impassable. The inter-island steamer AValiine was delayed by a heavy southerly and reached Lyttelton at 10.25 a.m., about 3£ hours late. GOVERNMENT ASKF.D TO HELP. NELSON, Last Night. Later estimates give the Riwaka, TJmukuri and Motueka valley district losses by the hailstorm at between £30.000 and £50,000. Mr Holyoake, M.P., telegraphed the Minister of Agriculture informing him how badly the fruit and tobacco growers had been hit. Though at present unable to estimate tlie damage Mr Holyoake said lie had seen sufficient to show that the farmers will -require financial assistance to enable them to carry on till the next season's crop is sold.