WIDESPREAD STORM.

Wairarapa Age, 4 May 1936, Page 6

WIDESPREAD STORM.

SUNNY NELSON. HILL COUNTRY PROTECTS TOWN. NELSON, May 2. As is almost invariably the case the high mountainous country protected Nelson from Saturday’s storm. Before daylight a few strong gusts of wind swept over and caused the banging of doors and rattling of windows in Nelson’s open air houses but they died away in a few minutes. During the day a southerly wind blew cold from the snow-capped ranges but there was bright sunshine for the Nelson races. —- (P.A.) BOISTEROUS NIGHT. BUT LITTLE DAMAGE REPORTED AT WESTPORT. WESTPORT, May 2. Very boisterous weather prevailed all last night and early this morning when an electrical storm, accompanied by very high wind and hail, was experienced. Damage appears to have been of a minor nature, consisting of the breaking of a few plate glass windows, fences and trees blown over, and the tops of two chimneys knocked over. Telegraphic communication was temporarily interrupted. At Karemea there was a washout near Market Cross and at Millerton a small slip came down on the track. Considering the boisterous weather the damage .appears to have been very slight. Fine Weather prevailed to-day and local football fixtures were played.—(P.A.)

VIOLENT GALE.

CONDITIONS AT HOKITIKA. HOKITIKA, May 2. Hokitika experienced a violent westerly gale on Friday. The barometer dropped suddenly, recording 28.87, the lowest for years. This was followed by a heavy westerly gale of extreme severity. The blow continued through the night, .moderating somewhat on Saturday morning. Heavy showers were experienced. Much minor damage was reported. . The most serious was caused to electric power lines, interruptions resulting from trees falling over the lines. Fences and chimneys generally suffered but the damage was in no instance of a serious nature. The weather cleared in the afteimoon with cold conditions prevailing, following a substantial snowfall on the Southern Alps.—(P.A.) TARANAKI’S EXPERIENCE. IRON BLOWN OFF ROOFS. NEW PLYMOUTH, May 2. The storm damage here in individual cases was not great but in the aggregate must be considerable. Telegraph and telephone lines were down in several places in central and north Taranaki. Trees were uprooted and in several cases iron was blown off the roofs of houses. A huge tree was blown across the road, to the North Egmont Mountain House, blocking access for several hours. The mountain was covered with a heavy mantle of snow and yesterday heavy hail showers swept the lowlands of the province.—(P.A.) WINTRY CONDITIONS. LIGHTNING AFFECTS ELECTRIC LINES. DUNEDIN, May 3. A high southerly wind, accompanied by hailstorms and heavy rain brought wintry conditions to Dunedin on Friday and yesterday. A flash of lightning and a thunderclap at 7 p.m. yesterday caused a break in the power lines, plunging portions of the city into darkness until 9 o’clock and disorganising picture theatres. The hills are lightly coated with snow and heavy falls are reported in Central Otago but all roads are clear. No serious damage is reported.—>(P.A.)

INVERCARGILL SWEPT. POWER SUPPLY INTERRUPTED. INVERCARGILL, May 3. Only minor damage was caused by a south-westerly storm which swept Invercargill on Friday afternoon and yesterday. It had moderated sufficiently yesterday to enable football matches to be played but hockey fixtures were cancelled. In the country districts some power and telephone lines were down and trees blown over. The wind was accompanied by heavy rain but the rivers have not risen to an extent that would cause alarm. Sijow is lying on the hills around Dipton. In the city the power supply was interrupted and in Gladstone, a suburb, for two hours on Friday night, when the wind was at its worst. The weather to-day was fine and cold, the wind having dropped to little more than a breeze.—(P.A.)

THE TAIL END.

HAWKE’S BAY ESCAPES.

HASTINGS, May 3.

High Winds, which were probably the tail end of the storm experienced in other parts of New Zealand prevailed ih Hastings and Napier during Saturday and Saturday night. At times the wind blew with the force of a gale but no damage of any appreciable kind was caused. The wind was spasmodic in force and direction. The temperature was bitingly cold yesterday but this morning broke clear and flue, with bright sunshine and an almost cloudless sky.—‘(P.A.)