STORM AT KARAPIRO

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXV, Issue 3265, 5 February 1935, Page 4

STORM AT KARAPIRO

WHIRLWIND AND HAIL . MANY BUILDINGS WRECKED The electrical disturbance which swept through the country on Saturday, had a peculiar effect in the Karapiro district where a whirlwind of exceptional severity did considerable damage on farms in the neighbourhood. The heat of the morning turned to a heavy oppressiveness and peals of thunder and flashes of lightning foretold a coming storm. Heavy black clouds rolled across the sky and a seering wind sprang up, and in the Whitehall Valley Road formed a terrific whirlwind. The hurricane, sweeping through a narrow track, crossed the properties of Messrs T. A. Frost, W. B. Brewer, J. P. Kceley, J. Montgomerie, J. W. Ganley, E. H. Greyburn, B. Harper and others. Sheets of iron .were lifted from, buildings and haystacks and the air was filled with flying debris that was dangerous to anyone abroad. An omin- , ous sound which accompanied the wind made the atmosphere most uncanny, and there Were many anxious moments for the settlers, who were wondering what was coming next. . Deluge of-Rain What followed was a deluge of- rain 'that cut off visibility for more than a dozen yards. Large, jagged hailstones accompanied the rain, and made a terrifying noise on the roofs of the houses. "It was .an experience that I sin- . cerely hope will never occur again,'.' said one settler to an '/.lndependent" representative. "I have never seen bigger hail in my life." On Mr Frost's, farm considerable damage was done. Trees were blown down and one near the homestead narrowly missed the . residence. Another tree fell over a power service line. Two haystacks on the farm were damaged and iron covering was lifted off and deposited a, chain away. On Mr Brewer's farm trees were blown down, haystacks damaged and a tank was blown. off its stand. At * Mr J. Keeley's farm a similar expert- '-4 ence was reported. Roof Torn Oft' The occupants of Mr J. W. Ganley's house were most apprehensive and expected tho building to collapse. The walls and roof of the garage were torn off and the iron deposited a chain away. Branches of a large willow tree were stripped and, on the opposite side of the road, the limbs of a white wattle tree near Mr Frost's home were broken. The branches weighed many tons and one crashed on to the washhouse, completely wrecking the building. Another branch scraped the side of the dwelling, but did no damage. A large pinus insignus tree on the farm was broken off at the base and a dozen other trees had their branches torn off. Sheet iron was wrenched from, haystacks on neighbouring farms, and '' was carried some distance, while an implement, shed on Mr Montgomery's ' fa cm was completely wrecked. Mr Brian Harper found that , his wood shed had been blown over and .a similar fate had overtaken his pig-sty. The cream-stand outside Mr Grey- ' burn's gate was carried away, and further on a willow was blown across the road, leaving only a narrow track for passing motorists. • •..;.,' There were many narrow escapes from injury, but no stock was lost. The deluge of rain turned the roads into miniature rivers and on the in.; i clines several wash-outs occurred., It is estimated that over three inches of rain fell within an hour.