LIKE PIGEON EGGS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18283, 29 December 1933, Page 8

LIKE PIGEON EGGS

NELSON HAILSTONES

TOBACCO CROPS DAMAGED

(Per Press Association.) NELSON, this day

Whilo escaping most of the Dominion’s unseasonable weather during the holidays, Nelson’s protecting ranges were unable to shield the district from the tail-end of a fierce south-eastorly squall which passed over yesterday afternoon. Narrow sectors experienced heavy falls of hail, which, in tho Pangatotara district, resulted in the destruction of approximately 50 acres of tobacco plants. Growers in other districts also suffered. In four minutes the hail was Sin. deep, tlie fall boing unique in the district’s history. In' some parts, tho hailstones were as big as pigeon eggs, and mostly jagged pieces of ice. They fell with unusual force, bouncing like small tennis balls.

It is understood that efforts will be made to secure replanting, though the season is rather far advanced. Fair crops have at times been obtained with late planting.

RAIN, HAIL, AND SLEET

CANTERBURY STORMS

(Por Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day

Further rain, hail, and sleet storms raged in North Canterbury during! the night and continued this morning, doing considerable damage to fruit and standing crops. Many camping parties were driven to shelter.

The storm caused an interruption of transmission last evening at the new 3YA station at Gebhie’s Pass, and the normal programme had to be suspended for a timo while tne power was reduced to permit of the cleaning of a lead-in which had become coated in sleet.