“ HELL’S CONCERT.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 March 1927, Page 10

“ HELL’S CONCERT.”

AVILD AVEATIIER AT TRENTIIAM. MARKSMEN’S CAMP DM LUG ED. By Telecroph—Prnsa Association. TRENTIIAM, March 21. Last night will live long in the memory of those who fried to sleep in camp. A strong north-easterly had blown all day, but the weather had been line except for a light shower in the afternoon. About 9 o’clock last evening, however, black storm clouds settled on the hills encircling the valley, which soon lay under an inky pall, slashed every few minutes by A’ivid lightning flashes. By 10 o’clock rain began to fall in earnest, soon developing into a succession of torrential cascades, which were driven across the camp by cyclonic blasts of wind, that picked up every movable thing, and with blinding lightning flashes and crashing thunder claps, created a riot of the elementary forces, such as no one in the camp had ever experienced before anywhere. These conditions prevailed for some hours; in fact, daylight found the storm still raging, though its strength was waning.

To add to the incidents of the night, an automatic electric fire alarm sounded in part of the camp owing apparently to a short circuit, caused by the storm.

A fire party turned out with the motor-engine in blinding rain squalls lit up by dazzling lightning flashes, only to find that their services were not needed.

Fortunately tho short circuit was only partial, and the main siren alarm did not sound, so that many who lay more or less snug under the blankets, wondering when this Hell’s concert woukl end, were spared the discomfort of turning out to share the firemen’s wetting under a cold douche from the clouds, for the atmosphere had now taken on a decidedly -wintry temperature. After daylight the weather moderated, and by 8 o’clock a start was made with the second stage of the Auckland match, 10 shots at 600 yards.

A strong wind from the rear kept wobbling uncertainly to right and left, making shooting an ordeal of patience and perseverance that yielded very little profit to the thoroughly chilled occupants of the mounds.

BOISTEROUS AVEEIv END IN MANAWATU. By Telegraph—Press Association. PALMERSTON N., March 21. Boisterous weather was experienced in the Manawatu over the week-end, with violent rain squalls and hail showers and electrical disturbances. Last night nearly three inches of rain had fallen in the last three days, but the rivers are normal. Orchards have suffered severely.

BIG BLOW AT WELLINGTON. By Telegrrapli—Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 21. AVellfngton suffered a violent storm ,m Sunday night and Monday morning. Thunder and lightning occurred, and heavy rain and hail fell, commencing ut about 10 p.m., just as the Renown, bearing tlio Duchess of A ork, was leaving. .Monday was cool and sunny. The wind velocity on Sunday night was from 46 to 52 miles per hour, but very little damage was done. SNOW AT DUNEDIN. By Telesrapli—Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 21. One of the stormiest days since last winter was experienced in Dunedin today. A cold south-westerly wind blew all day, bringing heavy driving rain. The surrounding hills were capped with tnow.