NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
October 1934 Southern North Island High Winds ( 1934-10-01 )
Gale-force winds battered the Wairarapa district, causing much desolation and damage on 1 October 1934.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wairarapa
An exceptionally violent gale raged in the Wairarapa on Monday (1 October 1934), and much damage was done, particularly between Greytown and Featherston. Pine and gum trees were down everywhere. Also telegraph and power poles blocked the roads in many places.
A cheese factory and the Waingawa freezing works were damaged by the gale.
Railway services were seriously interrupted on the Wairarapa line owing to slips. Telegraph communications were disrupted through wires coming down. Both north and south of Masterton, trees fell across the railway tracks and washouts occurred.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairarapa
Driving rain on Monday (1 October 1934) night and Tuesday (2 October 1934) added to the damage to houses and business premises caused by the fierce gale in ther Wairarapa district on Monday and considerable flooding occurred. The storm created havoc in the towns and in many outback districts.
Multi Hazard
at
Wairarapa
The farmers of the Wairarapa suffered heavy losses as the result of the severe gales and floods. On Monday (1 October 1934) night an extensive area was without electric power, and it was quite impossible for those with big herds to milk them by hand at short notice. There were stock losses through drowning.
High Wind / Gust
at
Masterton
Garages and other outbuildings were in some cases lifted bodily into the air and smashed to matchwood. Fences were levelled in all parts of the town. In Queen Street, the main shopping area, plateglass windows were wrecked.
During the height of the storm glass and corrugated iron from unroofed buildings was flying through the main thoroughfares of the town. The iron severed telephone and electric power lines, in all parts of the town. The conditions were quite unsafe for pedestrians and a number of injuries, mainly caused by flying glass, occurred.
All state schools in the town were closed for the day.
Flooding
at
Masterton
In Masterton the flood caused a very large amount of damage, and shopkeepers are busy cleaning up their premises. Some houses had over a foot of water in them, and the whole scene round Masterton was one of destruction and desolation.
Late on Monday (1 October 1934) afternoon the Waipoua River, which flows through the town flooded. By eight o'clock on Monday (1 October 1934) evening, the southern portion of Queen Street, and parts of Chapel, Dixon, Hall and Church Streets, were transformed into swiftly, running streams well over a foot deep in places. Several families were forced to abandon their homes.
Multi Hazard
at
Carterton
The wind blew down scores of roadside poles. Also the driving rain made it impossible for many residents to remain in their damaged houses. There was hardly a house or other building in the district that was not damaged.
A good deal of damage was done to stock in shops by rain when the plate-glass windows were broken.
High Wind / Gust
at
Carterton
Mortality amongst sheep, lambs and cows through falling trees was fairly high.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
Although Wellington missed the full effect of the storm which wrought so much havoc in the Wairarapa, minor damage was caused in the city and suburbs, and two people were injured.
The Government Meteorological Office reported on Monday (1 October) that the fierce blasts had been reported at Kelburn. At 10:50 p.m. a gust with a velocity of 74 miles an hour was registered. The storm gained in severity and at 9:55 a.m. on Monday (1 October 1934) a gust of 76 miles an hour was noted.
References
- Headline: Gale in Wairarapa, Masterton and Carterton, Fierce Wind Causes Havoc.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 1.
- Headline: Houses Unroofed, Flying Sheets of Iron, Some Premises Collapse.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 1.
- Headline: Railway Services, Serious Interruption, Trees Across The Line.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 2.
- Headline: Carterton Loss, Widespread Effects, Chimneys Blown Down.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 3.
- Headline: The Southern Area, Scenes at Tauherenikau, Greytown Suffers Badly.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 4.
- Headline: Queenstown District, Creeks Overflows Banks, Several Street Inundated.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 4.
- Headline: Wellington Wild Day, A School Untenable, Two Persons Injured.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 5.
- Headline: Like A Typhoon, Gale Wrecks Havoc, Wairarapa Swept.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 1.
- Headline: Roofs Torn Off, Scenes of Destruction, Like Quake Aftermath.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 1.
- Headline: Services Affected, Trains and Telegraph, Restoring Communication.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 2.
- Headline: Flood at Masterton, Shops and Houses, Rain Still Falling.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 3.
- Headline: Settler Drowned, Marlborough Flood, Rescued Horse Stumbled.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 3.
- Headline: Rain After Gale, Wairarapa's Plight, Water Enters Houses.
- The New Zealand Herald, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 12, Column 3.
- Headline: River Breaks Banks, Flood in Masterton, Number of Houses Vacated.
- The New Zealand Herald, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 12, Column 4.
- Headline: Losses of Farmers, No Power For Milking, Shelter Belts Blown Down.
- The New Zealand Herald, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 12, Column 4.
- Headline: 50,000 Damage, Masterton District, Gale and Floods.
- The Thames Star, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 2.
- Headline: Losses of Stock, Carterton District, Many Bridges Affected.
- The Thames Star, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 2.
October 1934 Southern North Island High Winds ( 1934-10-01 )
Gale-force winds battered the Wairarapa district, causing much desolation and damage on 1 October 1934.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wairarapa
An exceptionally violent gale raged in the Wairarapa on Monday (1 October 1934), and much damage was done, particularly between Greytown and Featherston. Pine and gum trees were down everywhere. Also telegraph and power poles blocked the roads in many places.
A cheese factory and the Waingawa freezing works were damaged by the gale.
Railway services were seriously interrupted on the Wairarapa line owing to slips. Telegraph communications were disrupted through wires coming down. Both north and south of Masterton, trees fell across the railway tracks and washouts occurred.
Heavy Rain
at
Wairarapa
Driving rain on Monday (1 October 1934) night and Tuesday (2 October 1934) added to the damage to houses and business premises caused by the fierce gale in ther Wairarapa district on Monday and considerable flooding occurred. The storm created havoc in the towns and in many outback districts.
Multi Hazard
at
Wairarapa
The farmers of the Wairarapa suffered heavy losses as the result of the severe gales and floods. On Monday (1 October 1934) night an extensive area was without electric power, and it was quite impossible for those with big herds to milk them by hand at short notice. There were stock losses through drowning.
High Wind / Gust
at
Masterton
Garages and other outbuildings were in some cases lifted bodily into the air and smashed to matchwood. Fences were levelled in all parts of the town. In Queen Street, the main shopping area, plateglass windows were wrecked.
During the height of the storm glass and corrugated iron from unroofed buildings was flying through the main thoroughfares of the town. The iron severed telephone and electric power lines, in all parts of the town. The conditions were quite unsafe for pedestrians and a number of injuries, mainly caused by flying glass, occurred.
All state schools in the town were closed for the day.
Flooding
at
Masterton
In Masterton the flood caused a very large amount of damage, and shopkeepers are busy cleaning up their premises. Some houses had over a foot of water in them, and the whole scene round Masterton was one of destruction and desolation.
Late on Monday (1 October 1934) afternoon the Waipoua River, which flows through the town flooded. By eight o'clock on Monday (1 October 1934) evening, the southern portion of Queen Street, and parts of Chapel, Dixon, Hall and Church Streets, were transformed into swiftly, running streams well over a foot deep in places. Several families were forced to abandon their homes.
Multi Hazard
at
Carterton
The wind blew down scores of roadside poles. Also the driving rain made it impossible for many residents to remain in their damaged houses. There was hardly a house or other building in the district that was not damaged.
A good deal of damage was done to stock in shops by rain when the plate-glass windows were broken.
High Wind / Gust
at
Carterton
Mortality amongst sheep, lambs and cows through falling trees was fairly high.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
Although Wellington missed the full effect of the storm which wrought so much havoc in the Wairarapa, minor damage was caused in the city and suburbs, and two people were injured.
The Government Meteorological Office reported on Monday (1 October) that the fierce blasts had been reported at Kelburn. At 10:50 p.m. a gust with a velocity of 74 miles an hour was registered. The storm gained in severity and at 9:55 a.m. on Monday (1 October 1934) a gust of 76 miles an hour was noted.
References
- Headline: Gale in Wairarapa, Masterton and Carterton, Fierce Wind Causes Havoc.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 1.
- Headline: Houses Unroofed, Flying Sheets of Iron, Some Premises Collapse.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 1.
- Headline: Railway Services, Serious Interruption, Trees Across The Line.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 2.
- Headline: Carterton Loss, Widespread Effects, Chimneys Blown Down.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 3.
- Headline: The Southern Area, Scenes at Tauherenikau, Greytown Suffers Badly.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 4.
- Headline: Queenstown District, Creeks Overflows Banks, Several Street Inundated.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 4.
- Headline: Wellington Wild Day, A School Untenable, Two Persons Injured.
- The New Zealand Herald, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 10, Column 5.
- Headline: Like A Typhoon, Gale Wrecks Havoc, Wairarapa Swept.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 1.
- Headline: Roofs Torn Off, Scenes of Destruction, Like Quake Aftermath.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 1.
- Headline: Services Affected, Trains and Telegraph, Restoring Communication.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 2.
- Headline: Flood at Masterton, Shops and Houses, Rain Still Falling.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 3.
- Headline: Settler Drowned, Marlborough Flood, Rescued Horse Stumbled.
- The Thames Star, 2 October (Tuesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 3.
- Headline: Rain After Gale, Wairarapa's Plight, Water Enters Houses.
- The New Zealand Herald, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 12, Column 3.
- Headline: River Breaks Banks, Flood in Masterton, Number of Houses Vacated.
- The New Zealand Herald, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 12, Column 4.
- Headline: Losses of Farmers, No Power For Milking, Shelter Belts Blown Down.
- The New Zealand Herald, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 12, Column 4.
- Headline: 50,000 Damage, Masterton District, Gale and Floods.
- The Thames Star, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 2.
- Headline: Losses of Stock, Carterton District, Many Bridges Affected.
- The Thames Star, 3 October (Wednesday) 1934, Page 3, Column 2.