WHIRLWIND IN SOUTH.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17605, 9 January 1929, Page 6

WHIRLWIND IN SOUTH.

MUCH DAMAGE DONE. HOUSE LIFTED OFF FOUNDATIONS* TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. A devastating whirlwind was experienced at Waihao Forks, in the Waimale district, South Canterbury, yesterday afternoon. Although it lasted only about a minute it wrought extensive damage to the homestead of Mr William Charles Ashworth, who has a farm at Allanholme. The house, according to the story of the six occupants at the time, w-as lifted about two feet off its foundations and left out of plumb. The kitchen chimney and wash-house chimney were levelled, and the iron roof was torn off the wash-house. Sheets of iron were torn off the roof of the house. Many of the pine trees in the plan-’ tation round the house were uprooted and others were severely damaged. The orchard w f as ruined. A wharf was smashed to matchwood after being carried a few chains. An old stable was wrecked and also a shed adjoining, while of 300 empty sacks stored on the farm only 12 are now to be found. Horsecovers also disappeared. A stack was carried away and a dray standing against o. fence among the trees was lifted to the other side of the fence. A gig under the trees was carried for a chain and a-half and smashed. . At the Allanholme coalmine, which is only eight chains from the homestead, a small house w'as lifted, half of it being carried over two chains away. Tha chimney was taken off another small abode. All the mine staging was blown down and several telegraph poles adjacent to the mine and homestead were snapped off 4 ft. from the ground. Occupants’ Terrifying Experience. In Mr Ashworth’s house at the time of the visitation were Mrs Ashworth and five children. They had a terrifying experience, especially when they thought the house was going to be turned over. Mr Ashworth was working in the riverbed with a team of horses when the whirlwind occurred, and the horses bolted.

The whirlwind was confined to a small area. About 30 chajns from Mr Ashworth’s place is a property owned by Mr Moyle, but only a corner of his plantation was touched. No damage was done on the farm of Mr Major, only 14 or 15 chains away.

The scene of the visitation is now ai strange sight. Debris is strewn everywhere. It is amazing that a motorshed, only 30ft, away from the house, was not touched by the wind.