SEVERE GALES.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17742, 20 June 1929, Page 8

SEVERE GALES.

TREES ACROSS RAILWAY. SEVERAL TRAINS DELAYED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.! LEVIN, Wednesday. • A .south-easterly gale has been blowing since daylight, and has caused considerable damage to the power and telephone-lines-. - Four large trees were uprooted just south of Levin, and Tell across the railway line, causing the southernbound Main Trunk express to be held up for an hour and other trains to be delayed.

GALE AT NEW PLYMOUTH. MUCH. DAMAGE DONE. NEW PLYMOUTH, Wednesday. A strong north-easterly gale this evening did extensive damage in New Plymouth and on the foreshore. . Passengers on the mail train from Wellington had an exciting experience when. the train approached New Plymouth. The train was- drenched by water and spray dashing over the sea wall. The permanent way will need attention for some hundreds of yards on account of the metal being washed away.- ' ' ’ ’ ' '

■ At' the : East End bathing reserve extensive erosion took place and the ground floor of the pavilion was Hooded. A wooden groyne at one end of the reserve was washed out and a breach 20 yards deep was made in the children's playing area, destroying seats and swings. A 15 yards section of a solid concrete dam in the Te Henui River at this reserve was broken off by the waves, and turned completely round. The reserve is strewn with driftwood and heavy logs. Fences and crops have suffered in 'lie town, and some electrical wires ve been blown down. DAMAGE IN TARANAKI.

WIND AND EARTHQUAKES

HAWERA, Thursday

A heavy north-w'est gale, accompanied by rain squalls and several light earthquake shocks, was experienced throughout the district between five o’clock and midnight, causing interruptions to the electric and telephonic services. Property at Hawera was not damaged beyond the wreckage of fences and a number of outbuildings and shop skylights. More extensive damage was suffered at Opunake, where two shop windows were blown in, street lights wrecked, and a telephone line cut by flying iron from a shop verandah. A house verandah was lifted bodily and scattered in pieces. Several outbuildings were demolished and a number of electric light poles’ fell, bringing down wires.

FLOODS IN OTAGO.

THE ROADS IMPASSABLE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Thursday. Reports from north of Dunedin show'' that last night’s rain caused minor floods in Palmerston. The Shag River is over its banks, and there is ten feet of water over the road bridge at Bushey, and the roads are impassable.