THE GALE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4706, 26 July 1893, Page 3

THE GALE.

— «> — Serious Damage. Our northern correspondent writes :— Tho nor'-wester on Tuesday afternoon roße to hurricane force at Oxford, Cust and a0r0.3 the plains. At the former place a considerable amount of damage waß done, iv the Bbape of windows blown in, chimneyß and fences blown down and roofs Htripped. The railway Btation premises at Bennetts were much damaged, the iron being partially stripped off the engine-shed. The evening train from Oxford to Eangiora had to be stopped more than once for the removal of branches of tree, blown across the line. Our Cust correspondent writes:— At about 4i p«m. tho wind was something tremendous — worse than the September gale two or "three years ago. Considerable damage haß been done to fences, telegraph poles, buildings and stacks, and a largo number of big trees have been blown clown. The telegraph lines between the Hinds and Waitaki are very much, knocked about, and communication has been interrupted since yesterday. A large number of posts have been blown down between Winßlow and Eangitata, and communication with Dunedin totally cut off. It is possible that a wire will ba re-opened by to-night. In tho meantime messages are being sent by train over the breakages. The Inspector went down thiß morning with a gang of men and materials to effect repairs. All the other lines are in good order.