SEVERE GALE

Southland Times, Issue 22490, 26 January 1935, Page 4

SEVERE GALE

A TASTE OF WINTER. HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS. A westerly gale of considerable force and severity, accompanied by driving and heavy rain storms, swept Invercargill yesterday morning and, although conditions became less boisterous in the afternoon, the weather was distinctly on the unpleasant side. The citizens experienced almost a taste of winter in mid-summer and Invercargill certainly bid fair, for two or three hours, to outrival even “Windy Wellington.” The storm was perhaps at its worst both about noon and then again just before one o’clock and the many office workers and shop assistants who, after having been delayed by the heavy rain, decided to brave the elements for lunch were drenched before they reached their homes. Taxis were in brisk demand while several business men, by telephone, “summoned” either wives or children to come to their assistance with their private cars. Cyclists, particularly, had an unenviable experience for though they coasted at a fast pace with the wind behind them, it was almost impossible to make any progress whatever when attempting to ride in the teeth of the howling westerly. At times the rain was almost blinding while many a pedestrian crossing the street found it took a strong man to prevent being blown against traffic. Notwithstanding the violence of the storm the express which usually reaches Invercargill at 1.10 p.m. was only a few minutes late while the 9.5 p.m. train also arrived practically on time.

One Gladstone resident, battling to business in the morning, told a Times reporter he could not recollect such a wild gale in many years past. In isolated cases, trees were reported to have been uprooted by the severity of the conditions but there was no disorganization of car, bus or electric light services.

About 8 o’clock last night the rain had ceased and the weather, at a late hour, gave some indication of to-day being fine even if cloudy.