Overview
Fri. Aug. 4.
Miserable showery day. Rode up to Sonoma to see results of the easterly gale. Five big tawa trees across Gladstone Road beyond 2nd cutting + a bad slip in the 3rd cutting. Found my entrance gate on road damaged, the two lucerne trees by Kopje uprooted, some boards blown off north end of big shed + the poat + rail "block" above Ram p[addock] by Main Ravine partly blown down. The wind seems to have struck the face of the Arapaepae Range with terrific fury (as shown by the innumerable splintered and uprooted trees) + then escaped from the valley in all directions like an explosion. Walked up to Ohau Summit with tools + staples to inspect east b[oun]d[ar]y fence. The fury of the gale was evident by uprooted + splintered stumps + the stripped appearance of
[page break]
tall scrub. The east fence between Ohau Summit + Narby's was badly smashed in 17 places by big trees, principally totaras + miro, blown across it, This in addition to damage caused by smaller boughs, etc. The bush beyond my fence was terribly smashed up, big trees uprooted or smashed to splinters, while in many places the wind had made "lanes" from east to west right across the hilltop to my bdy. I mended some of the more easily cleared places + temporarily blocked all other places until I am able to clear the huge masses of timber preparatory to re-straining the wires. Not having my lunch with me of the hilltop, I did not dine till 4.15. Did not leave block till about dusk + had some difficulty in getting home as I had to go down river bed in Kay's to get past the slip + trees on Gladstone Road. Mr. Lancaster, Amy + Miss Groves came to tea + spent evening - we had a very pleasant time.
Previous diary entry Next diary entry