STORM DAMAGE

Wairarapa Age, 5 May 1934, Page 5

STORM DAMAGE

THREE BUILDINGS UNROOFED AT WHAKATANE. SMALLER STRUCTURES ALSO STIFFER. HEAVY RAINFALL RECORDED. WHAKATANE, May 4. The most severe storm for several years, was experienced here last night, causing damage to buildings on the waterfront to the extent of several hundreds of pounds. The north-easterly gale unroofed a service station, part of the Rotorua Motor Transport Company’s new building, Dent’s boatbuilding shed, and the Atlantic Oil Company’s depot. A fish smokehouse collapsed, ’ several motorsheds and fences were blown down, trees were uprooted, and haystacks damaged in many parts of the district. The force of the wind backed up the tide and caused the water to encroach on the roadway and the wharf shed approaches. The rainfall for 48 hours was 2.31 inches.—(P.A.)

POWER FAILS. ROTORUA IN DARKNESS. ROTORUA, May 4. Rotorua had' dinner last evening by candlelight, lamplight, or any other light available, the whole town being in darkness until shortly before 7 p.m. The main power supply from Arapuni was broken by trees falling across the line, and six power poles were blown over at Mourea, preventing the standby plant at Okere being, brought into action. Gum trees which were uprooted in Fenton Street, broke telephone communication with the south during the afternoon. Trees were uprooted in Various other parts of the town and surrounding districts, windows were blown, in, and some tiles were blown off the roof of the Post Office. The lake was very rough, and several launches and boats broke from their moorings and were washed up on the foreshore. An alarm of fire was sounded during the period of darkness. For this the old firebell had to be used, as the electric siren could not be operated.—(P.A.)

HEAVY SEAS. SMALL CRAFT AT TAURANGA IN TROUBLE. TAURANGA, May 4. The worst easterly storm for ten years swept over the town district yesterday and last night. Heavy seas in the harbour caused anxiety for owners of small craft, two of which were driven ashore, and two sunk at their moorings. Several dinghies are also ashore. A few windows were blown in. Trees and fences are down, and there were slight interruptions in electricity, telegraph, and telephone services. Two inches of rain were recorded. No road damage is reported.— (P.A.) STONE WALLS POUNDED. MILFORD PROPERTY OWNERS FARE BADLY.

AUCKLAND, May 4. There is a drizzling rain to-day. The itotal fall for the 24 hours up to 9 o’clock was 21 inches, and a further heavy fall seems likely. The most serious damage done by the gale was at Milford Beach, where the seas raised were stronger than in any storm since 1913. The waves pounded the stone walls of sections with a beach frontage and at high tide towards midnight several walls collapsed. The seas then rapidly ate away the sandy sections and threatened to undermine the houses. Some of the residents are considerably alarmed, and as the weather continues threatening there is a possibility that at least one residence will be demolished by high seas to-night. The work of the residents in improving their sections for many years has been undone and the damage runs into thousands of pounds.—(P.A.)