WIND AND DUST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 102, 3 May 1938, Page 3

WIND AND DUST

STORMS IX X.S.W. SYDNEY, April 2.3. The worst dust storms in 20 years swept over southern and western areas of New South Wales during the week-end, and dust, blown from inland, formed a thick haze over Sydney on Sunday afternoon. The Melbourne-Sydney and main western telephone lines were torn down by flying iron from roofs, and communication was interrupted for several hours. Seven Royal Australian Air Force machines were forced down by dust storms, and 60 miles an hour head winds while on their way to Richmond (New South Wales) from Laverton (Victoria). Farrrj buildings al Junee were unroofed and outbuildings and stacks blown over in a tornado which followed a day of intense discomfort caused by the dust. The street lighting in the town was cut off for half an hour, the wires having been blown down. Dust in flay and Nyngan shrouded those towns in darkness. At Hay, Constable Page and other men were wood-cutting, and had just cut down a tree when the storm arose. For some time they were unable to f/id their motor-lorry, and were shouting to each other from only in paces’ distance. In the town, visibility did not extend beyond six feet. Creeping under doors and between the ledges of the windows, the dust invaded homes and shops. It formed scales on people's lips, and made breathing a discomfort. In Nyngan all traffic ceased, doors and windows were firmly shut, and the lights were put on. At Temora motor traffic was brought almost to a I standstill, so thick was the blanket of 'dust. From Dubbo to Gilgandra all ■ traffic was held up completely for i nearly an hour. At Cootamundra, residents could see only a few feet in Hront of them. A motorist, unable to