SEVERE HAILSTORM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17639, 1 December 1931, Page 3

SEVERE HAILSTORM

DAMAGE IN THE SOUTH STONES LIKE CHERRIES SEVERAL BUILDINGS FLOODED (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Chrisl church was swept by a severe hailstorm this afternoon. The shower lasted only 20 minutes, but was of exceptional severity. The bulk of the hailstones were iii:d of phenomenal size, being about half an inch in diameter, but. falling sparsely, were much larger hailstones, larger than a‘ wellgrown. matured cherry. Glass verandahs and panes in greenhouses struck by these larger pieces were broken. Gardens in the near neighborhood of the city were damaged but, fortunately, districts .in the suburbs where market. gardens and commereiai orchards are situated wore outside Hie narrow limits of the storm. In Crrhedral Square and along the banks', of the Avon the hail lay while us il. there had been a fall or snow and, under the trees, leaves' lay thickly strewn, having been shorn oil! by the heavy hail. The areas which Imre the world of the storm were the centre of the city, St. Albans. Spreydon, Linwood, Lower Kiccarton and parts of I’apnmii.

The worst damage was done in Ihe city owing to the rapid melting of the hail in guttered roofs of buildings of the older type. Water poured through the roof of the public library and hundreds of books were damaged, some being completely soaked and utterly destroyed. The library was closed while the staff worked with brooms, buckets, and mops to clear away the water, which at times rose Over their ankles. Water came into the mail room of the post office, but-all mail was quickly moved to safety. Minor troubles from flooding occurred in many shops but, with a few exceptions, little or no damage was done. Damage, estimated at £SOO to £BOO to stocks of new wallpaper occurred in the premises of Smith and Smith, Tunm street* Flooding in the Bowron buildings. .Manchester street, occupied chiefly as olficc suites, was serious. Dnter cascaded down tie stairs and all the floors were awash, with water t rickling down the walls. Water came through the roof of the Cathedral, reaching part of the big organ. Organ builders immediately got io work dismantling the instrument for examination.

Comparatively little rain lias fallen to break the worst early summer drought known in parts ot Canterbury for 30 years.