HEAVY HAILSTORM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16869, 5 February 1929, Page 2

HEAVY HAILSTORM

VINERIES WRECKED DAMAGE AT KAKANUI (Per Press Association.) OAMARU. last night. Just four-weeks after the disastrous hailstorm in North Otago, on the corresponding day and at. the same time in the afternoon. 1.20 o'clock, a similar visitation played havoc with the vineries at the Kakanui seaside resort, five mile's south of Gamarti. Reverberating peals of thunder and vivid flashes of lightning preceded the storm, which lasted a few minutes only, but during that brief space damage estimated at between £7OO and £BOO occurred. The ground was covered with a. white mantle of hailstones as large as pigeon eggs, and the western side of three vineries, each 109 yards; in length, belonging to Mr, G. W. Cleverly, were completely wrecked, thousands of panes being smashed. Tho grape crop was just al>oufc to go oil the market and is exposed to the elements and should there l>e wind or frost it will be completely ruined. Seven, hundred feet of gla.ss were shattered in Lyson Bros.' vineries, and the side; was completely ripped Out of the glasshouse owned by MisS M.'dvay. Several other vineries suffered damage and the grape crops are jeopardised. The Kakanui vineries are the largest in the Dominion and represent a big portion of the supply from the grapegrowing industry. The insurances are almost negligible. Tho Oaiwmt harvest area escaped. Departmental reports assess the storm damage, last month at £27,766 over a total area of 3881 acres, wheat being put down at .£18,061 for ?308 acres, oats £7BBB for 1351 acres, other crops .£lßl6 for 222 acres. The highest individual loss is £1287, with seven others whose losses amounted to £IOOO or over.