HAIL AND SLEET

Southland Times, Issue 22210, 30 December 1933, Page 6

HAIL AND SLEET

NORTHERN WEATHER

TAIL-END OF STORM AT NELSON

TOBACCO PLANTS AFFECTED

(Per United Press Association.) Nelson, December 29.

While 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 the fierce south-easterly squall which passed over yesterday afternoon. Narrow sectors experienced heavy falls of hail which in the Pangatotara district, resulted in the destruction of approximately fifty acres of tobacco plants. Growers in other districts also suffered.

In four minutes the hail was three inches deep. The fall was unique in the district’s history. In some parts the hailstones were as big as pigeon eggs and with jagged pieces of ice fell with unusual force, bouncing like young tennis balls. It is understood efforts will be made to secure replanting though the season is rather far advanced. Fair crops have at times been obtained with late planting. ELECTRICAL STORM DAMAGE IN SOUTH TARANAKI. (Per United Press Association.) Hawera, December 29. An electrical storm of unusual severity left a trail of minor damage among the crops in South Taranaki last night. In outlying districts from Hawera several high-tension fuses were blown, interrupting power services till midnight. The transformer fused at Patea, where the storm lasted for an hour. Hail, ranging from the size of small marbles at Hawera to the dimensions of pigeon eggs in outlying districts, fell over a wide area, followed by heavy rain. A whirlwind, advancing from the sea, tore the tiles off the Hawera Hospital roof, snapping the copper fastenings, and leaving a gap Gft square. The wind cut a swathe through the lucerne crop Bft wide, and partly razed several trees.

Two watersprouts at sea off Waverley Beach approached rapidly, alarming campers, but eventually passed on each side of the camping reserve. The sea beneath each column was churned to fury. A terrific hail shower, accompanied by lightning and thunder, ended the spectacle. CROPS AFFECTED CANTERBURY VISITATION. (Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, December 29. Further rain, hail and sleet storms raged in North Canterbury during the night and continued this morning. Considerable damage was caused to fruit and standing crops. Many camping parties were driven to shelter.

Successive storms of hail and sleet caused an interruption in transmission on Thursday evening at the new 3YA station at Gebbie’s Pass (says the Press). The normal programme had to be suspended for five minutes while power was reduced to permit the cleaning of the lead-in, which had become coated with sleet and partially earthed.

The interruption occurred shortly before 9 o’clock when the weatherforecast was about to be broadcast. Although the usual programme had to be suspended music was played while the station worked at reduced power. Heavy wind and hail had been experienced at the pass during the afternoon and evening, and the big aerial line, in its exposed position 300 feet above the ground, received a liberal coat of hail and sleet. This caused a stretching, which in turn made the lead-in sag and become partially earthed near the insulator at the tuning box. Power was immediately reduced to allow the operators to clean the lead-in and tighten the aerial. Fortunately the trouble had not been serious enough to necessitate the cleaning of the aerial itself. The work was difficult, carried out in a heavy hail storm which blew across the pass, but in five minutes the station was ready to transmit at full power again. During the period of the interruption a large number of listeners were unable to obtain any reception at all from 3YA. Some of them pictured the great 300-feet towers broken or fallen in a gale, but they were soon reassured when the new station came on the air again at its usual volume. SQUALLS AT WELLINGTON. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, December- 29. A severe southerly storm struck Wellington in the early hours of this morning accompanied by hail squalls, thunder and lightning. It is fine but cold to-day with very occasional squalls. SNIPPING AFFECTED. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, December 29. Dragging her mooring before a southerly gale which swep* the Petone foreshore to-day a 46 feet fishing launch owned by Mr F. C. Graham, of Petone, went aground at the west wharf and is to-night in danger of becoming a total wreck. Little shipping is delayed at Wellington by the storm as there are few ships to leave the port. The Picton ferry steamer Tamahine felt the full effects of the gale and reached Picton an hourlate. The departure of the auxiliary scow Talisman for Nelson was postponed until the weather moderates, while the Totara, which was due to-day from Westport, is reported to be sheltering under Long Island. FRUIT TREES DAMAGED. (Per United Press Association.) Masterton, December 29. A severe southerly storm was experienced in Wairarapa to-day, the wind doing considerable damage to fruit trees. There is a good coating of snow on the Tararua Ranges. GALE AT GISBORNE FRUIT CROPS SUFFER. (Per United Press Association.) Gisborne, December 29. A heavy south-west gale has been raging all day to-day, with gusts of wind, at times of terrific force. A very heavy sea is running. Fruit crops, especially the early varieties of apples and peaches, have suffered severely. Telegraph communication, both north and south, was interrupted at tunes through branches falling on the lines, and work is still being carried on under difficulties.

At Wainui beach, a seaside resort four miles from Gisborne, a house, the construction of which was finished only yesterday, was blown down, sections of the building covering the roadside. A little farther a large garage was blown down. Many trees throughout the district were rooted up and the early maize crops, where they are three

or four feet high, are flattened. On top of the Wharerata Hills, on the main highway between Wairoa and Gisborne, the gale is considered the worst in history, whares being unroofed and trees, even bluegums, being down in all directions. In Opotiki a heavy hailstorm last evening was followed by a fairly heavy frost, which blackened pumpkins and also affected the maize crops. AUCKLAND, TOO SMALL CRAFT ASHORE. (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, December 29. The wintry weather that has prevailed for the last few days continued to-day. A marked drop in temperature and a southerly gale made conditions unpleasant for campers and did damage to stone fruit. The north coast of the harbour felt the full force of the gale and several small craft were driven ashore. A naval target, which was anchored broadside to the wind, had a decided list, which reached 30 degrees from the horizontal during strong gusts. A sharp hail storm was experienced shortly before mid-day in some suburbs.

Reports of similar conditions were received from all parts of the province. In some places extensive damage was caused to fences and the chimneys of small buildings. It was reported late to-night that trees had fallen across the Great South Road near Te Awamutu, blocking the highway.