CYCLONIC STORM.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18443, 29 March 1922, Page 5

CYCLONIC STORM.

SENSATION AT WELLSFORD.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 28

Wellsford felt the full force ol the cyclone storm on Sunday night. Observers saw a great funnel-shaped cloud like a gigantic whirlwind and a waterspout travelling from the north and licking up every movable object in its course. At Te Hana it lifted a three-room-ed house with a brick chimney many feet into the air, together with pine trees and sheet iron. Some of these were blown a great distance. The house was smashed to small pieces, some of the iron reaching Wellsford. At Wellsford the cyclone was a little to the north of the station and in its way over the hills struck the house of Mr A. Osborne. The latter, with his wife and son. aged 19 years, who were in the house, were lifted with the building which rose bodily and was swirled round in the air and carried some distance and dashed to matchwood. The piano and furniture wore broken up, timber being Uttered round for many chains. The iron window weights travelled ten chains and were half buried in the c’.ay hills. A neighbour. Mr Tony Ikeaavlch. whose fences and barn were partially wrecked before the gale reached Osborn’s house, rushed to tho assistance of his stricken neightbours, and found Mrs Osborn and her son in an unconscious condition in a. paddock about five chains from the site of the house.

Mrs Oshorn was very seriously injured internally and is in a serious condition. Mr Osborn was severe’;’ cut. about the head and crushed. His son is severely bruised. At Warkw’orth. a house of six roomed a ecu pied by Frank Martin was wrecked by the wind, and timber and iron wore scattered over a wide area. A chimney was levelled and a heavy grindstone was blown from a paddock. The family, who were out milking, escaped injury, although Mr Martin was slightly stunned by lightning. DAMAGE AT PUKEKOHE EAST. HOUSE LIFTED OFF ITS BLOCKS. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, March 28. The storm also caused damage at Pukekohe East. A house owned by Mr. Kelly was lifted off its blocks and carried bodily for 30 or 40 feet and twisted completely round. Sheets of iron were carried fully half a mile. A shed covering a motor owned by Mr. Ferguson was carried away, tearing the hood off and smashing the windscreen to atoms. The residence of Messrs McKay and Carter was also considerably damaged. It is estimated that the damage to Mr. Kelly's residence amounts to over £5OO, Mr. Ferguson’s £2OO, and Messrs McKay and Carter’s about £lOO.