WHIRLWIND

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3893, 23 April 1937, Page 6

WHIRLWIND

PARAWERA VISITATION. “LIKE AN EARTHQUAKE.” f Shortly after 9 o’clock yesterday morning a whirlwind cf cyclonic proportions struck the farm of Mr J. R. Cullen, a well-known farmer at Orakau. and in the short space of a few minutes did almost unbelievable damage. -“SPLINTERED LIKE MATCHWOOD.” 'Trees were splintered to matchwood and, in toppling over, completely demolished a larger implement shed which contained Mr Cullen’s farm implements. The shed and the implements are now buried under the fallen trees and it is believed many cf implements have been irreparably damaged. A large tree crashed on to a farm waggon and almost completely wrecked it, while a batch near the plantation wad overturned, and what was fcrmiwly the floor is now the roof. Striking evidence of the damage may be seen from the road where a large belt of macrocarpa trees were shattered by the force of the wind, branches being carried a distance of at least 50 yards. Many of the trees, which were six feet in diameter, were wrested from their roots and flying branches caused damage to the power line. A haystack in an adjoining paddock received the full fcrce cf the blast and was, scattered far and wide. THE DOG’S EXPERIENCE. A large walnut tree, which had stood for at least 50 years, was blown down and in falling, completely overturned a dog kennel. The dog happened to be inside the kennel at 1 the time, and was carried up in the air with it. He has become so scared that to-day he will net go near it. “It was like an earthquake,” said Mr Cullen, as, with the assistance of willing neighbours, he proceeded to clear away the debris this morning. Strangely enough the whirlwind confined itself to Mr Cullen’s property and neighbouring farms were net affected. Mr Cullen’s faum is on historic ground, the battle of Orakau having been fought on portion of the property.