BIG HAILSTONES

Southland Times, Issue 22215, 6 January 1934, Page 6

BIG HAILSTONES

VIOLENT STORM

DAMAGE IN CANTERBURY

FRUIT TREES STRIPPED

LOUD THUNDER CLAPS

(Per United Press Association.) Christchurch, January 5.

A severe thunderstorm with rain and Very heavy hail passed over Christchurch and part of Canterbury this afternoon. In the city the hail was heavy, but it did very little damage. In the country, however, it wrought much destruction, breaking glass, stripping fruit trees and smashing down wheat and oat crops so that some will be fit only for grazing. In some areas the hailstones were the largest within living memory. At Darfield they were fully an inch in diameter, and at Rangiora one piece of ice measured was five inches by two inches. This was the largest piece, but others were almost as big. - Fortunately the storm missed Lobum, the principal fruit-growing area. Lightning was seen to strike one of the steel towers of the old 3YA radio station (now 3YL) in Gloucester street during the storm. The crack of thunder was so loud that many persons feared for the safety of the building on which the tower stands, but no damage was done to it or to the equipment of the radio station, which was not transmitting at the time. Another flash struck a poplar tree near the Edmonds’ Clock Tower and split some pieces of wood from its trunk. Power Lines Down. In some parts of the country districts the lightning was also severe and power lines and telephone lines were brought down at Hawkins, while the fuses of telephone lightning guards in the city were blown. The main telegraph services were not interrupted. When the radio tower was struck there was a flash of light down its steel lattice work, and those in the building were greatly alarmed by the noise. An inspection was made, but it revealed that the aerial tower and building were undamaged. The poplar tree was struck at a point about 30 feet from the base and several pieces of wood were split from the trunk and scattered on the ground. Some of the chips were more than two feet long, but fortunately none of them were heavy enough to endanger the life of passers-by, and the health of the tree is not likely to suffer. Persons living in houses nearby saw the tree struck and were momentarily blinded by the flash. A severe clap of thunder appeared to strike down almost on top of them, and one man at least jumped to the conclusion that his home had been struck. 3YA on Reduced Power. A few interruptions were caused to the power lines. Lightning caused a break in the municipal electricity department’s line at Bromley and a break in the Banks Peninsula Power Board's lines left the radio station 3YA without power, the emergency plant having to be called into action so that the station transmitted on a reduced power. In addition to the power and telephone lines brought down at Hawkins by lightning, a line was struck at Temuka, but only a fuse vzas blown. Some damage was done to telephone lines about Christchurch, the fuses of the lightning guards being blown. The district telegraph engineer said it was not possible to know the full amount of the damage until the subscribers affected had reported faults in their telephones. The main telegraph and telephone lines were very little affected and the service was not interrupted. At Lyttelton the lightning was very vivid and electrical discharges could be seen running along the telephone lines near the Heads. ASHBURTON DISTRICT HAILSTONES STRIP FRUIT TREES. (Per United Press Association.) Ashburton, January 5. One of the most severe hailstorms for years was experienced in a wide area of the county this afternoon, lasting for half an hour. Stones as big or bigger than pigeon eggs stripped fruit and other trees, cut rape and flattened and threshed out wheat and oats. In one district one or two windows were broken.

Intermittent rain during and since the Christmas holidays is causing apprehension regarding cereals, but rape and turnips are benefiting. Shearing is being delayed as farmers, owing to the condition of the sheep following the winter pasture shortage, put off the work as long as possible, rain then intervening.