HEAVY WIND IN WELLINGTON

Wanganui Chronicle, 26 January 1948, Page 6

HEAVY WIND IN WELLINGTON

PETONE FLATS UNROOFED MUCH DESTRUCTION IN THE HUTT VALLEY (P.A.) Wellington, Jan. 25. Modern two-storey four-unit flats at the corner of Cuba and Bouverie Streets, Petone, were unroofed by a gale on Saturday afternoon. The first intimation of trouble about 11 a.m. was when a sheet of Iron was dislodged. Soon sheets of iron were planing across Cuba Street and falling over a wide area. Danger from the flying iron was so great that bus traffic was diverted from the normal route. Flying sheets cut down electric and telephone wires in the vicinity. The tenants have not yet been affected, but should rain fall they will have to vacate the building. Throughout the Hutt Valley wind left a trail of destruction in the shape of fallen trees, wires and fences. A small car was battling into Wellington along the Hutt Road with the accelerator hard down, when a strong gust was fe’lowed by a rending noise. In the rear mirror the driver saw floating some 20 feet above the road and making good speed back to Petone the complete hood of his car.