GALES IN THE SOUTH.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3393, 8 December 1911, Page 6

GALES IN THE SOUTH.

MANY PLACES DESTROYED. LITTLE GIRL INJURED. [per PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER, Dee. 7. A westerly gale blew with hurricane force all through the- night, uprooting huge trees, levelling fences, and completely wfreeking gardens in exposed positions. The roof of the observatory at- the Catholic mission was carried away. The storm now show* signs cif abating. ASHBURTON, Dec. 7. A strong nor’-wester blew at Ashburton a-'il yesterday morning, and about 9.30 it blew down the north-west . brick wall of the new theatre now in course of erection. The wall for the , whole length was completely demolished, almost level with the ground. It was 28ft high, and about 100 f- long, but- the rest of the- wall will also have to come down. It is feared that- the south-west- wall is also badly shaken, as it was seen to sway badly several times. When the north-west wall caved in men were fastening ropes with a view to saving it, and one man had to jump a considerable height from the scaffolding , to the ground. He escaped without serious injurv. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 7. , A very violent- north-west gale- blew in the city yesterday, and gusts were exceptionally strong. When the gale [ was at its height, about mid-day, at . Lancaster Park, the roof of the stand on the east side of tlie ground was lifted bodily,, and the larger portion deposited in the front part of a house, | making a gaping hole in the roof, and smashing the verandah. The damage is estimated at £ISOO. At Lyttelton the squalls were of exceptional violence, raising a heavy sea 1 in the outer harbor, and whirling clouds of spray high in the air. H.MiS. Powerful, which was anchored in the stream, caught the full! force : of the gale, and at 10 a-m. went off to sea. The Governor was to have visited Vice-Admiral King-Hall, but the visit w'as cancelled. Hie wind had abated ; somewhat last night, and the indica- ’ tions were that it was shifting to the south-west. _ DUNEDIN, Dec. 7. A heavy south-westerly gale prevailed in- Dunedin- and for a considerable distance north and south yesterday and well into last evening. Considerable damage, chiefly of a- minor nature, was ! done. . , , _ ’ At) Henley a little girl named Jessie ‘ Reid, while taking a message to the railway station, was. struck by a piece of roofing off a goods shed, which had been dislodged ,and sustained a bad fracture of the right leg. besides being severelv bruised. The girl was removed to the hospital. A tablet porter’s hut at Purakanui was blown' over,- and caugjht fire, being burnt down. , , , , . . , It is also reported that two private residences at .Purakanui . have been blown down.